El-Sayed's Past Criticisms of Obama Surface Ahead of Joint Rally
Newly resurfaced writings and comments show the Michigan Senate candidate once described the former president as a failure who perpetuated war and violated civil liberties.
Democratic Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed has a history of sharply criticizing former President Barack Obama, according to writings and comments that have resurfaced ahead of a planned joint rally.
In a 2012 piece for The Huffington Post, published shortly after Obama's re-election, El-Sayed wrote, "Obama was not the right choice — he just wasn’t the wrong one." He continued, "This leader has perpetuated war, violated our civil liberties, deported more people from our shores than any other president before him, and the list of his failures goes on."
El-Sayed, 41, has previously spoken of the excitement he felt when Obama won the presidency in 2008, calling it the first time he saw himself reflected in politics. However, in the 2012 op-ed, he repudiated those earlier sentiments, stating, "The jubilation of his 2008 election will forever live with me. But for me, that memory will serve not as a reminder of the history we made that night — but of the silly emotions of a naïve young man who didn’t understand that hope and change required more than flowery prose and a winning smile."
The then-aspiring politician also asserted that the United States was not "better off" under Obama and criticized the Affordable Care Act as "watered-down reform that kowtows to the interests of healthcare lobbies."
Further critiques emerged during El-Sayed's unsuccessful 2017 run for Michigan governor. In an interview with Vox, he described Obama's policies as "fairly centrist, middle-of-the-road Democratic policies," and the resulting article was titled "Don’t Call This Man ‘The Next Obama.'"
In January 2020, during a panel discussion at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, El-Sayed warned against repeating "the same mistakes of the past eight years under Barack Obama." He stated, "We are not, as a country, better off eight years after Obama was elected in 2008 than we were when he was elected. And I say this as somebody who loves him deeply."
He added that while Obama might deserve credit for the short-term economy, "the structure of the economy did not change under Barack Obama," arguing that the former president's shortcomings set the stage for President Trump's rise.
Despite these past criticisms, El-Sayed acknowledged Obama's impact on his own political aspirations. "At 24, I watched President Obama win in 2008. He changed what was possible for someone like me, with a name like mine. Despite being dealt one of the toughest hands of any American president—he handled it," El-Sayed told CNN in a statement. "And despite all he did, there remains so much left to do. That’s where the next generation, inspired by him and his leadership, picks up. We stand on the shoulders of giants—and I can’t wait to tell him myself later this month."
El-Sayed is currently in a close race against Republican former congressman Mike Rogers. He has faced criticism from some Jewish and Black groups regarding his focus on the Middle East and Israel's conflict with Hamas. Last month, he campaigned with former Vice President Kamala Harris, despite El-Sayed having supported the "Uncommitted" movement in the 2024 presidential primary, which declined to endorse Harris against Donald Trump in Michigan.
El-Sayed and Obama are scheduled to appear together, along with other Michigan Democratic candidates, on Oct. 24 in Detroit. Representatives for El-Sayed and Obama did not immediately respond to requests for comment.