Abdul El-Sayed, First Muslim Elected to U.S. Senate, Backs Trump's Plan to Cut Israel Aid

Michigan voters have sent Abdul El-Sayed to the U.S. Senate, where the Democrat will become the first Muslim ever to serve in the chamber. El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in a victory that came as his party reclaimed control of Congress.

The 42-year-old former public health official built his campaign around lowering costs, passing Medicare for All and removing corporate money from politics. Rogers, who had President Trump's backing, repeatedly attacked El-Sayed over his Muslim faith and his opposition to American military aid to Israel.

U.S. policy toward Israel and the war in Gaza proved to be the race's defining fault line. Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated in the Democratic primary, went on to endorse Rogers only days before the election amid a bitter dispute over Israel.

Now, after a campaign marked by heated disagreements over Israel, the senator-elect finds himself on the same side of an issue as Trump. The president has announced plans to end roughly $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of the year, though he offered no details on how the cuts would work.

Speaking to Morning Edition after his victory, El-Sayed welcomed the proposal. "I think the president is actually right on this policy," he said. "I'd also like to see us stop selling weaponry that gets used to do the worst things, including genocide and apartheid, to Israel."

The United States currently provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid under an agreement that runs through 2028.

El-Sayed's argument stretches beyond Israel. He also questioned American military support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan, saying U.S. tax dollars should be spent at home instead.

Winning Michigan's Senate seat, however, does not mean every division within his party has disappeared. During a visit to Michigan before the election, NPR's Michel Martin heard concerns about El-Sayed from some Jewish and Black voters. Asked whether he still had work to do to win their support, El-Sayed said the election results challenged that narrative.

"There's always more work to do. There's always more to build. There's always more conversations to have," he said.