El-Sayed backs Trump's cut to Israel aid
The new Michigan senator supports the plan to end $4 billion in annual military funding and wants to stop selling weapons to the country.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
Detroit, Michigan. Abdul El-Sayed now agrees with Donald Trump on one major foreign policy issue. The new U.S. senator said he supports the president's plan to stop sending money to Israel. Trump announced the cut on November 3. The plan aims to end roughly $4 billion in annual military aid by the end of the year. The president did not explain how the cuts would work.
El-Sayed made history in Michigan on November 3. He defeated Republican Mike Rogers to become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. The win gave Democrats control of Congress. El-Sayed is 42 years old. He served as a public health official before running for office. His campaign focused on lowering costs and creating Medicare for All.
The issue of Israel divided the race. Rogers, who received backing from Trump, attacked El-Sayed over his faith. He also targeted El-Sayed's stance on U.S. military aid to Israel. Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed beat in the primary, endorsed Rogers days before the vote. The two candidates had a bitter dispute over the war in Gaza.
"I think the president is actually right on this policy," El-Sayed said in an interview after his victory. "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 U.S. currently provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid. This agreement runs through 2028.
El-Sayed said his argument extends beyond Israel. He questioned U.S. military support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan. He said American tax dollars should be spent at home. Some Jewish and Black voters in Michigan expressed concerns about El-Sayed before the election. NPR's Michel Martin heard those concerns during a visit to the state.
El-Sayed said the election results challenged the narrative that he lacked support from those groups. "There's always more work to do. There's always more to build. There's always more conversations to have," he said. The senator will now join the Democratic majority in the Senate. The House also shifted to Democratic control in the same election.
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