Obama defends Muslim candidate amid Republican attacks

Former US president Barack Obama has endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, defending him against attacks over his Muslim identity as President Donald Trump mocked the turnout at the campaign rally.

Obama addressed more than 4,300 supporters at Cass Technical High School in Detroit on Saturday. He urged voters to back El-Sayed, who is challenging Republican Mike Rogers in a closely contested Senate race ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

During his speech, Obama highlighted El-Sayed’s proposals on healthcare, campaign finance and the war against Iran. He praised the candidate’s call for political change and said his plans included expanding access to affordable healthcare and reducing the influence of money in politics.

Obama also linked El-Sayed’s healthcare proposals to the Affordable Care Act, which became law during his presidency in 2010. He said the Democratic candidate could help advance the work his administration had started.

The former president also pushed back against Republican attacks questioning El-Sayed’s religious identity and alleging links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Drawing on his own experience of facing false claims about his identity during his presidential campaigns, Obama said similar tactics would not succeed against the Michigan candidate.

“We have seen this movie before. I starred in it,” Obama told the crowd, adding that the attacks had failed to derail his political career and would not necessarily work against El-Sayed.

Trump later addressed a Republican campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, where he mocked Obama’s appearance in Detroit and claimed the venue had been nearly empty. His remarks contrasted with reports that thousands of people had attended the event.

The president also criticised Obama’s record of campaigning for Democratic presidential candidates who subsequently lost their elections. In a post on Truth Social, Trump cited Hillary Clinton’s defeat in 2016 and Kamala Harris’ loss in 2024 as examples.

Republicans have repeatedly accused El-Sayed of having extremist affiliations, including alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has denied the allegations, and no credible evidence has established the claimed links.

Obama also used his Michigan visit to campaign for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson, who is facing Republican Representative John James.

Describing the midterm elections as an opportunity to hold the Trump administration accountable, Obama urged voters to support Democratic candidates. Trump, meanwhile, is scheduled to visit Michigan on Sunday to campaign for Republican contenders.

The Michigan Senate contest has become a key battleground in the run-up to the November 3 elections, with both parties seeking to strengthen their positions in Congress.