--- title: Trump Labels Abdul El-Sayed a Hateful ‘Communist’ description: The President attacked the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee from Michigan. canonical: https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/ author: Chad de Guzman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-08-06T07:01:40.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-06T15:11:08.287Z article:section: Politics og:title: Trump Labels Abdul El-Sayed a Hateful ‘Communist’ og:description: The President attacked the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee from Michigan. og:url: https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt45c23792ab87d745/6a742b5f5798c91fd55947ed/donald-trump.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: donald-trump.jpg og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Trump Labels Abdul El-Sayed a Hateful ‘Communist’ twitter:description: The President attacked the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee from Michigan. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt45c23792ab87d745/6a742b5f5798c91fd55947ed/donald-trump.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Trump Labels Abdul El-Sayed a Hateful ‘Communist’ > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. Brief goes beyond the Washington headlines to explain the politics, personalities and power dynamics shaping what happens next. Senior correspondent Philip Elliott brings sharp context to the issues driving the capital, connecting the decisions made in Washington to the institutions, industries and people they affect. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=8eb1a956-fffa-4740-a5a1-b6baa704350e&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * D.C. Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=8eb1a956-fffa-4740-a5a1-b6baa704350e&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/subscribe?i=8eb1a956-fffa-4740-a5a1-b6baa704350e&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is TIME's politics newsletter? D.C. Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=8eb1a956-fffa-4740-a5a1-b6baa704350e&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate Primary [Watch (HLS stream): Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate Primary](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/fOKfbY4D.m3u8) (0:40)  _Published 2026-08-05. The President attacked the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee from Michigan._  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter Aug 6, 2026 7:01 AM UTC  by [Chad de Guzman](https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Reporter Aug 6, 2026 7:01 AM UTC President Donald Trump didn’t take long to attack Abdul El-Sayed, the [winner of Michigan’s Democratic primary](https://time.com/article/2026/08/05/abdul-el-sayed-haley-stevens-michigan-democratic-senate-primary-election-result/) for the U.S. Senate race, as “a man of hate” who was “full of sh-t.” During a campaign-like event in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, Trump accused the 41-year-old progressive Democrat seeking to become the first Muslim U.S. Senator of being a “communist” who “hates” Israel and Jewish people. “This guy hates Jews. Somebody said, ‘Oh that’s a little strong.’ No, he hates Jews and he hates Israel,” Trump said. Trump continued: “He’s a man of hate, and now he’s going around saying, ‘No, I love everybody.’ He doesn’t love everybody. Put him in office, you’re going to find out what he loves.” El-Sayed [previously told TIME](https://time.com/article/2026/07/08/democratic-senate-hopeful-abdul-el-sayed-is-running-against-two-parties/) that he does not consider himself a socialist or communist, saying, “I actually think that at the small and local scale, capitalism is a great way to allocate resources, as long as everybody has access to it.” He has also rejected accusations of antisemitism, [repeating](https://youtu.be/%5FqqH2MuB0p0?t=1691) on Wednesday, “My commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters.” Trump had earlier [claimed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117043300198873853) on social media that El-Sayed’s primary victory was “great news” for the Republican Party, while he also without evidence [suggested](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/117043133534824966) that there were voter irregularities in Michigan and that the general election could be “rigged.” Speaking to [CNN](https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/05/politics/video/donald-trump-abdul-el-sayed-kaitlan-collins-mike-rogers-senate-democratic-party-michigan-progressive-israel-iron-dome) Wednesday evening, El-Sayed clarified that he was “opposed to unconditional military aid for any country,” including Israel, and that taxpayer dollars should instead go to services like healthcare, schools, and roads. As for Trump’s attacks, El-Sayed joked that he’s “glad” Trump at one point called him a “lovely gentleman;” El-Sayed added: “a lot of people think so.” But El-Sayed also called on Trump to refocus his priorities. “We’re living through an affordability crisis that is generational, people are paying nearly $5 in gas because of a war he started, and half the time, if he’s not talking about me, he’s talking about the drapes in his ballroom,” El-Sayed said. “So at the end of the day, I invite the President to focus on what I’m saying.” ## Transcript So my colleague and friend, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, we shared a great conversation this morning. And I know that it was a bitter end to this very long primary. But I also know that Haley brings the best of herself to her work. She is one of the most committed public servants that you'll ever meet. Uh, she loves democracy, like I love democracy. And whatever differences that we might have had in the primary, they pale in comparison to what unifies us. A recognition that so long as we want to keep our democracy, that democracy better be working for people, and that all of us have to come to come together to make sure that we never let Mike Rogers see the inside of the US Senate. So, congresswoman, thank you for your race. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/"},"headline":"Trump Labels Abdul El-Sayed a Hateful ‘Communist’","datePublished":"2026-08-06T07:01:40.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-06T15:11:08.287Z","description":"The President attacked the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee from Michigan.","url":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/","keywords":["Donald Trump","elections","democrats","republicans","Election","News Desk","overnight"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt45c23792ab87d745/6a742b5f5798c91fd55947ed/donald-trump.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Chad de Guzman","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt45c23792ab87d745/6a742b5f5798c91fd55947ed/donald-trump.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"donald-trump.jpg","caption":"","creditText":"Jim Watson—AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/donald-trump/","name":"Donald Trump"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/","name":"Trump Labels Abdul El-Sayed a Hateful ‘Communist’"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Abdul El-Sayed Wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate Primary","description":"The President attacked the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee from Michigan.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/fOKfbY4D/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2026-08-05T15:52:25.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/fOKfbY4D.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/","duration":"PT40S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/article/2026/08/06/trump-abdul-el-sayed-hate-communist/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```