Michigan Sen. Abdul El-Sayed backs Trump's plan to end Israel aid

Abdul El-Sayed, the 42-year-old Democrat who became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, has aligned with President Donald Trump on a major shift in foreign policy. El-Sayed publicly supported the president's announcement to end approximately $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of the year.

The statement marks a notable alignment between the two leaders, who campaigned on opposing sides of the issue during Michigan's recent election. Trump, who had endorsed Republican challenger Mike Rogers, proposed the cuts without providing specific details on the implementation timeline. El-Sayed praised the move during an interview with NPR's Morning Edition, stating, "I think the president is actually right on this policy."

El-Sayed went further than the president's proposal by advocating for a complete stop to U.S. arms sales to Israel. He argued that the United States should no longer sell weaponry that is used for what he described as "the worst things, including genocide and apartheid." This position reflects his campaign platform, which emphasized lowering costs and reforming Medicare, though foreign policy became a central battleground in the race against Rogers.

The candidate’s stance places him in a unique position within his own party. During the Democratic primary, El-Sayed defeated Haley Stevens, who later endorsed Rogers due to disagreements over Israel. Now, as a sitting senator, El-Sayed finds himself sharing a policy view with the Republican president while managing internal party divisions that were prominent during the campaign.

El-Sayed's critique extends beyond the Middle East. He questioned the necessity of U.S. military support for other nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Pakistan. He suggested that American tax dollars should be prioritized for domestic spending rather than foreign subsidies. This broader argument for fiscal restraint at home was a key theme of his successful campaign for the Michigan Senate seat.

Despite his victory, El-Sayed acknowledged that work remains to build support among specific voter groups. During a pre-election visit, he heard concerns from some Jewish and Black voters in Michigan. When asked about these divisions, El-Sayed noted that the election results challenged the narrative that he lacked broad support. He told Michel Martin of NPR, "There's always more work to do. There's always more to build. There's always more conversations to have."

The U.S. currently provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid under an agreement that runs through 2028. Trump's plan to end this funding by year's end will likely face scrutiny in the Senate, where El-Sayed now serves as a member of the majority party.