Obama stumps for El-Sayed in Detroit, attacks Trump and GOP

Former president says El-Sayed will 'finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act' as early voting begins in Michigan

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published25 October 2026

Updated25 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources2 outlets

Barack Obama campaigned for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit on Saturday, the first day of early voting in Michigan, throwing his support behind the nominee and launching a series of attacks on President Donald Trump and the Republican administration.

Speaking to thousands at Cass Technical High School, Obama said El-Sayed was 'fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket.' The former president predicted the candidate would 'finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American.'

The rally also featured secretary of state Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor. Obama accused Trump of 'enriching himself and his family' and criticised what he called a culture at the top of taking favours. 'Never seen a president so intent on selling favours like this,' Obama said.

Obama mocked defence secretary Pete Hegseth as 'laser-focused' on the 'jawline and testosterone levels of our troops' and questioned how much time he spends in front of a mirror. On trade, Obama noted Trump's tariffs on Canada, saying the president was tough on 'that well-known evil empire' that gave the world 'Martin Short and maple syrup'. He also took a jab at White House renovations, saying Trump 'should be on HGTV' and has 'the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.'

El-Sayed, a doctor and former Wayne County health official, beat moderate congresswoman Haley Stevens in an August primary, though Obama did not endorse him at the time. El-Sayed has since called Obama a mentor. The two spoke by phone after the primary, and Obama acknowledged their differences, including El-Sayed's past criticism of the Affordable Care Act as an incremental fix. 'We are not going to agree on every detail of every issue,' Obama said. 'You know who else doesn't agree with everything I do? Michelle Obama.'

The race is considered a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. A Marist poll from mid-October put El-Sayed at 50% and his Republican opponent, former congressman Mike Rogers, at 48%, within the margin of error. RealClearPolitics' average had El-Sayed ahead by about 2.6 points. Rogers lost a 2024 Senate race to Democrat Elissa Slotkin by less than half a percentage point. Trump, who has called El-Sayed a 'jihadist' and alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood (denied by El-Sayed), is due to hold a rally for Michigan Republicans in Port Huron on Sunday. If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The Michigan Senate race is one of the most competitive in the country, rated a toss-up, and could help determine control of the chamber.
An El-Sayed win would make him the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate, a historic milestone.
Obama's return to the campaign trail injects national attention and Democratic star power into a key battleground state during the first day of early voting.

Background

Michigan has not elected a Republican to the Senate in 25 years, but the party sees this seat as a strong pickup opportunity. The Democratic primary pitted El-Sayed, a progressive backed by the party's left wing, against moderate Haley Stevens, who had the support of the Democratic establishment and pro-Israel groups. Obama stayed neutral in the primary but endorsed El-Sayed after his victory. The general election campaign has been marked by Trump's personal attacks on El-Sayed, including a viral moment when he called him a 'jihadist'. El-Sayed supports Medicare for All, while Rogers is a former congressman endorsed by Trump.

Key Perspectives

Barack Obama: Says El-Sayed will 'finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act' and is fighting for real change that puts money in people's pockets. He accuses Trump of enriching himself and selling favours. Donald Trump (as reported): Has attacked El-Sayed throughout the campaign, calling him a 'jihadist' and alleging ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed denies. Trump is holding his own rally in Michigan the day after Obama's event. Abdul El-Sayed: A champion of Medicare for All, he has described Obama as a mentor and acknowledges policy differences while emphasising shared values. He denies Trump's claims about his background. Elissa Slotkin (incumbent Democratic senator): Endorses El-Sayed, saying 'Michigan believes in electing fighters' and that they 'agree on so much more' than they disagree.

What to Watch

Trump's rally in Port Huron on Sunday, which will be the first presidential visit to St Clair County.
Early voting turnout in Wayne County, where El-Sayed lost the primary to Stevens and where he needs to make up ground.
The general election on 3 November, with polls showing the race within the margin of error.

Sources

Obama Blasts ‘Spineless Congress’ in Push for Democrat El-Sayed · Bloomberg
Obama rallies rapturous Michigan crowd for El-Sayed: ‘He’ll finish the job we started’ · The Guardian

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

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SupportedObama stumped for El-Sayed in Detroit and attacked Trump and the GOP.World news | The Guardian: “he threw his weight behind the Democratic Senate candidate and the rest of the ticket on the first day of early voting in Michigan”
SupportedObama said El-Sayed would “finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act” as early voting began in Michigan.World news | The Guardian: “Obama said in front of thousands of onlookers at Cass technical high school in Detroit that El-Sayed would “finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American”.”
SupportedObama campaigned for El-Sayed in Detroit on Saturday, the first day of Michigan’s early voting, and threw his support behind him.World news | The Guardian: “Barack Obama told a Detroit crowd on Saturday that Abdul El-Sayed was “fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket”, as he threw his weight behind the Democratic Senate candidate and the rest of the ticket on the first day of early voting in Michigan.”
SupportedObama said El-Sayed was “fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket.”World news | The Guardian: “Abdul El-Sayed was “fighting for change, real change, that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket””
SupportedObama said El-Sayed would finish the ACA job and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every American.World news | The Guardian: “El-Sayed would “finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American”.”
SupportedThe Detroit rally featured Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic nominee for governor.World news | The Guardian: “The former president headlined the rally for El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for US Senate, and secretary of state Jocelyn Benson, the party’s candidate for governor”
SupportedObama accused Trump of enriching himself and his family and described a culture at the top of taking favours.World news | The Guardian: “He accused Donald Trump of “enriching himself and his family”, and said the administration had set a “culture … at the top” of taking favors.”
SupportedObama mocked Hegseth as “laser-focused” on troops’ jawlines and testosterone levels, and questioned how long he spends in front of a mirror.World news | The Guardian: “mocking the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, as “laser-focused” on the “jawline and testosterone levels of our troops”, asking: “How much time do you think this man spends in front of the mirror every day?””
SupportedOn tariffs, Obama called Canada a “well-known evil empire” and said it gave the world Martin Short and maple syrup.World news | The Guardian: “On tariffs, Obama said Trump was toughest on “that well-known evil empire”, referring to Canada”
SupportedObama said Trump “should be on HGTV” and had the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.World news | The Guardian: ““He should be on HGTV,” Obama said of the many renovations in Washington, including the White House ballroom and the Rose Garden. “He’s got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory.””
SupportedA mid-October Marist poll put El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48%, within the margin of error.World news | The Guardian: “A Marist poll of likely voters statewide conducted in mid-October put El-Sayed at 50% and Rogers at 48%, within the margin of error.”
SupportedIf elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate.World news | The Guardian: “If elected, El-Sayed would be the first Muslim and first Egyptian American in the US Senate.”