MS NOW host Lawrence O’Donnell has spotlighted what he described as "poisonous lies" uttered by former President Donald Trump in the lead-up to the midterm elections, particularly concerning Democratic Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed. O'Donnell asserted that Trump's rhetoric, especially against El-Sayed, has reached a "new low" that historians will remember.
During his show "The Last Word," O'Donnell critiqued Trump's final public appearance before Election Day, noting that the former president dedicated significant time to defending his past actions rather than addressing pressing voter concerns like inflation. O'Donnell pointed to a New York Times poll of key Senate races that showed El-Sayed with a substantial lead over his Republican opponent, suggesting this outcome reflects voter frustration with Trump's messaging.
O'Donnell also condemned the perceived Islamophobic nature of attacks against El-Sayed, playing clips of Trump suggesting El-Sayed should be subjected to heightened security measures. He contrasted this with remarks made by Senator Ted Cruz, who baselessly claimed that Americans would die if El-Sayed were elected. O'Donnell dismissed these claims as "insane," reminding Cruz that past attacks have not resulted in senators being held responsible for subsequent events.
Despite a recent endorsement of El-Sayed's Republican opponent by El-Sayed's primary challenger, Haley Stevens, O'Donnell noted a surge in campaign contributions for El-Sayed's campaign following these events. He highlighted that El-Sayed's campaign raised $2.4 million in a single day after Stevens' endorsement.
O'Donnell concluded by suggesting that if the New York Times poll accurately reflects voter sentiment, then Michigan voters will reject what he characterized as the "most poisonous lies ever heaped upon a candidate for Senate in American history."