Newly resurfaced video and old essays show Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed spent years mocking Barack Obama’s presidency as a failure, just before asking the former president to join him on the campaign trail.
Quick Take
- CNN’s KFile unit resurfaced years of El-Sayed’s harsh past comments about Obama’s record in office.
- Obama is set to campaign with El-Sayed in Detroit on October 24, alongside Michigan’s gubernatorial nominee.
- El-Sayed’s campaign says the old comments reflect policy disagreement, not personal hostility toward Obama.
- Michigan Republicans mocked the reunion as proof El-Sayed’s campaign needs outside help to survive.
- The episode taps into wider voter frustration with politicians who seem to shift positions for convenience.
Old Criticism Resurfaces Before Big Rally
Days before Obama’s planned Michigan appearance, CNN’s KFile unit found that El-Sayed had spent years openly criticizing Obama’s presidency. The Democratic Senate nominee wrote in 2012 that Obama “perpetuated war, violated our civil liberties, deported more people from our shores than any other president before him”.
Those words were not a one-time slip. In interviews and essays spanning 2012 through 2017, El-Sayed said Obama wasn’t strong enough on health care, big banks, campaign finance reform, or immigration. He argued Obama’s economic and health care policies still favored corporations over ordinary people, leaving the country no better off than before.
Obama Set to Campaign Anyway
Despite that record, Obama agreed to join El-Sayed in Detroit on October 24, alongside Michigan gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson. The Michigan Democratic Party announced the rally as part of a push to energize voters in a race that could help decide which party controls the United States Senate.
El-Sayed’s team insists the old criticism was about ideas, not personal grudges. The candidate said Obama “was one of the first politicians who inspired me to believe there was a place in politics for people like me,” crediting him for winning Michigan twice and noting he voted for Obama in both of his presidential runs.
Republicans Pounce on the Timing
Michigan Republicans mocked the reunion, framing Obama’s visit as a rescue mission for a struggling campaign. The party’s scathing response argued El-Sayed needs outside star power because his own record and standing in the polls may not be enough to carry him past Republican opponent Mike Rogers in November.
El-Sayed has pushed back, saying attacks over his old Obama comments echo tactics used by Republicans who stress Obama’s full name, Barack Hussein Obama, to question his legitimacy. He argues the timing of the resurfaced clips, right before a high-profile rally, says more about politics than principle.
Barack Obama is set to campaign in Detroit Oct. 24 for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Notable because El-Sayed spent years challenging Obama’s presidency and arguing his approach left problems unresolved. @BarackObama @AbdulElSayed https://t.co/5R9cy3Jpko
— james jackson (@jackgoesvirtual) October 8, 2026
Some Detroit voters remain unconvinced that Obama’s endorsement will erase doubts about El-Sayed. A local political commentator said the rally may not fix El-Sayed’s struggles with Black voters in the city, arguing trust issues run deeper than one campaign stop can repair.
Why This Fight Matters Beyond Michigan
The dispute captures a frustration many voters already feel toward politicians who seem to bend their words to fit the moment. Whether El-Sayed’s turnaround reflects honest growth or political convenience, the episode feeds public distrust of leaders on both sides who appear to chase optics over consistency ahead of the midterms.
Sources:
twitchy.com, pbs.org, nbcnews.com, jpost.com, abdulforsenate.com, bridgemi.com
