President Donald Trump attacked newly nominated Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday, labeling him a "Communist" and reviving longstanding, unsubstantiated claims of widespread voting irregularities in Michigan's largest county after the closely watched Democratic primary.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized El-Sayed, who narrowly defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Tuesday's Democratic primary and will now face Republican Mike Rogers in November in one of the nation's most competitive Senate races.
"Wayne County (Detroit) in Michigan is one of the most corrupt voting areas in the United States, if not the World," Trump wrote. "It is strictly Third World! Miracles happen in Wayne County, including more votes being cast than there are voters, by a lot."
Trump did not provide evidence to support those claims. Election officials have repeatedly rejected similar allegations about Wayne County in previous election cycles, and courts have consistently found no evidence of widespread voter fraud capable of changing election outcomes.
The president also referred to El-Sayed as "the Communist, who is not liked in Detroit," and suggested, without evidence, that mail ballots could affect the November election.
"The Radical Left Socialist has a real shot, and don't discount all of those fake mail-in ballots that will 'surprisingly' show up at the last moment. Get ready for another Rigged Election," Trump wrote.
He concluded the post by urging Republicans to back Rogers.
"In November we must VOTE FOR MIKE ROGERS, and make Michigan TOO BIG TO RIG."
TRUMP: Says El-Sayed is projected winner over Socialist rival, calls him a Communist who hates Jews and Israel pic.twitter.com/KDNsU85x7H
— Trump Truths (@trumptruthsbot) August 5, 2026
Trump's comments came hours after El-Sayed emerged as the Democratic nominee following one of the year's most expensive and closely contested Senate primaries. The former Wayne County health director defeated Stevens by less than one percentage point despite tens of millions of dollars spent by outside groups supporting both candidates.
El-Sayed, a physician and progressive Democrat backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, campaigned on expanding healthcare access, economic reform and ending unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel. His victory marked a major win for the Democratic Party's progressive wing in a battleground state that Trump carried in the 2024 presidential election.
Following the primary, Democratic leaders quickly moved to unify behind El-Sayed. Stevens conceded the race and endorsed him, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other party leaders pledged their support ahead of the general election against Rogers, a former congressman seeking to return to the Senate.
The Michigan Senate race is expected to be one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterm elections, with control of the Senate potentially hinging on the outcome.
