El-Sayed and Rogers Clash on Iran War, AI, and Second Amendment in Fiery Debate
The Michigan Senate candidates traded sharp accusations on national security, economic policy, and constitutional rights in their second televised debate.
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, engaged in a contentious second debate, hitting each other on issues ranging from foreign policy and the economy to gun rights and the regulation of artificial intelligence.
The debate, held Wednesday evening, highlighted the sharp divisions between the two candidates as they vie for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.
Foreign Policy and National Security
El-Sayed accused Rogers of supporting a war with Iran, calling the conflict "aimless." He further suggested Rogers was aligning with then-President Donald Trump on the issue and would continue to do so, particularly with an upcoming campaign event featuring Trump. Rogers countered by questioning El-Sayed's stance on Iran versus Israel, stating that El-Sayed had previously refused to condemn the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and did not view Iran as a greater threat than Israel.
Economic Policies and Government Spending
Rogers criticized El-Sayed's proposals to expand government programs, such as Medicaid, and his refrain of "put money in your pocket." Rogers argued these policies would carry hidden costs and lead to higher taxes. He specifically mentioned "Medicare for All," suggesting it would result in loss of private insurance and increased taxes, making individuals' lives "more miserable."
Artificial Intelligence Regulation
When the topic of AI regulation arose, El-Sayed suggested supporting "democratically appointed folks on the board of these AI corporations," citing an existential threat to the workforce. Rogers interpreted this as El-Sayed advocating for government control over private companies, linking it to the ideology of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Although El-Sayed has not officially received DSA endorsement, he has supported candidates backed by the group.
Second Amendment and Past Statements
The candidates also clashed over gun control. El-Sayed criticized Rogers for not giving a direct yes or no answer on universal background checks. Rogers, in turn, brought up past statements by El-Sayed, including a 2023 video where El-Sayed proposed amending the Constitution to replace the right to bear arms with a right to healthcare. El-Sayed had also suggested that only designated community groups, like police forces, should possess firearms. The video in question has since been made private.
Muslim Brotherhood Accusations
A particularly heated exchange occurred when Rogers accused El-Sayed of deleting past social media content related to defunding the police and alleged that El-Sayed had asked the head of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt to defund the police there. El-Sayed strongly rejected the assertion, calling it "beneath" Rogers. While Fox News Digital has not found direct links between El-Sayed and the Muslim Brotherhood, critics have pointed to his past ties with the Muslim Students Association (MSA), a group linked to a Muslim Brotherhood strategy memorandum.
With their scheduled debates concluded, El-Sayed and Rogers are set to face off in Michigan's general election on November 3.