President Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday, labeling the progressive candidate "full of s---" and asserting that Democrats are embracing communism.
Speaking in Las Vegas, Trump devoted a significant portion of his remarks to warning that the Democratic Party is transitioning from socialism to communism, which he described as "the greatest threat to our country in its history."
El-Sayed narrowly won the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan earlier on Wednesday, defeating Rep. Haley Stevens. He is set to face Republican Mike Rogers in November for the seat currently held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
Trump characterized candidates associated with democratic socialism as "dangerous" and "lunatics," claiming their policies would lead to "death, squalor, poverty" and a "life of hell" for Americans, citing Venezuela as an example of the consequences of such ideologies.
"When I watch Abdul, he's full of s---," Trump stated, drawing a strong reaction from the audience. El-Sayed, who has secured endorsements from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, campaigned on platforms including Medicare for All and reducing the influence of money in politics.
Trump reiterated his past assertions that "America will never be a socialist country." He then argued that Democrats are actively attempting to bypass socialism entirely and move directly towards communism. "We're not letting them have it as a communist country, not even for a minute," Trump declared.
The White House later amplified Trump's message on social media, posting a statement that "Communism is the greatest threat to our country."
Trump concluded his remarks by pledging to defeat what he termed the Democratic Party's leftward trajectory, stating, "Together we will defeat communism, socialism and Marxism in America once and for all."