A Michigan Democratic Senate candidate was caught on leaked audio refusing to condemn the death of Iranian terrorist leader Ayatollah Khamenei, instead prioritizing the feelings of “sad” voters in Dearborn and instructing staff to deflect questions by attacking President Trump with baseless smears.
Leaked Audio Exposes Stunning Moral Calculus
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat running for U.S. Senate in Michigan, held a private campaign strategy call on March 1, 2026, one day after an Israeli airstrike killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Audio from that call, published by the Washington Free Beacon on March 30, reveals El-Sayed instructing his communications team to avoid any comment on the terrorist leader’s death. His reasoning: “there are a lot of people in Dearborn who are sad.” This stunning admission exposes a candidate prioritizing electoral calculations over moral clarity regarding a regime that sponsored terrorism against Americans for decades.
Deflection Strategy Targets Trump With Outrageous Smears
El-Sayed’s strategy extended beyond silence. He proposed that if reporters pressed him on Khamenei’s elimination, staffers should pivot to attacking President Trump by invoking unsubstantiated allegations linking him to Jeffrey Epstein, explicitly referring to Trump as a “pedophile president.” The candidate also suggested deflecting to criticism of Israel and AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying organization, accusing it of “capturing” American politicians. This approach reveals a disturbing willingness to weaponize inflammatory accusations and anti-Israel rhetoric rather than address legitimate foreign policy questions about a terrorist regime’s leadership. Even El-Sayed’s own advisers reportedly expressed unease with his Israel-related messaging during the call.
Dearborn’s Political Influence Shapes Campaign Priorities
Dearborn, Michigan became the nation’s first Arab-majority city in 2023 and hosts the largest per-capita Muslim population in the United States. While the city traditionally leans Democratic, it delivered a plurality to Donald Trump in 2024, demonstrating its swing-vote power. El-Sayed’s calculation to avoid alienating voters mourning Khamenei—a Supreme Leader since 1989 whose regime oversaw internal repression and terrorist operations—underscores how identity politics can eclipse American interests. Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud has amplified anti-Israel positions, including calling Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack “inevitable,” creating an environment where condemning America’s enemies becomes politically risky for progressive candidates.
Sanders Endorsement Highlights Progressive Foreign Policy Divide
El-Sayed carries the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders, a signature of his far-left credentials. His recent partnership with Hasan Piker, a streamer who notoriously claimed “America deserved 9/11,” previously drew controversy and foreshadowed this latest scandal. The leaked audio crystallizes a fundamental question for Michigan voters: should Senate candidates prioritize protecting feelings about a terrorist dictator over American values and security? Khamenei’s regime sponsored attacks killing hundreds of Americans, yet El-Sayed deemed mourning his death a constituency concern worthy of campaign silence. This represents a troubling capitulation to radical voices within the progressive coalition, signaling how extreme foreign policy positions have become acceptable in certain Democratic circles.
National Republicans Seize on Disqualifying Revelation
The National Republican Senatorial Committee immediately promoted the Free Beacon story, recognizing its potential to damage El-Sayed’s viability in Michigan’s competitive 2026 Senate race. Fox News coverage labeled the audio “disqualifying,” and Senator John Kennedy commented he would not “shed tears for the Ayatollah.” Online backlash focused heavily on El-Sayed’s Epstein deflection tactic and his characterization of Dearborn residents’ sympathies. El-Sayed’s campaign responded not by defending his position but by threatening legal action through the Sandler Reiff Law Firm, claiming the audio was recorded without permission while notably avoiding any dispute of its authenticity. This legal threat underscores the damaging nature of the revelation for a candidate already navigating tensions between Michigan’s diverse electorate and his progressive base.
Dearborn at present is a Muslim City! What else would you expect????
The people in Dearborn can be as sad as they want, as long as the people in Iran are closer to achieving happiness.
Abdul El-Sayed sounds like and is a typical Democrat.