El-Sayed on October 7: "I'm Not Somebody Who Tries To Make Political Theater Out Of Other People's Pain"
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/10/08/el-sayed_on_october_7_im_not_somebody_who_tries_to_make_political_theater_out_of_other_peoples_pain.html

Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed was made to answer several questions about Israel during his first debate with GOP rival Mike Rogers on Thursday (http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/10/08/michigan_senate_debate_abdul_el-sayed_vs_mike_rogers.html). Asked if he supports Israel or Iran, he said, "Both of them have proven dangerous in their own way."

"I don't want our tax dollars buying weapons for other countries. I don't know what's so hard about that," El-Sayed said.

When asked about condemning alleged October 7 atrocities, he said: "I'm not somebody who tries to make political theater out of other people's pain."

MODERATOR: We've got 10 seconds. Is there anything Israel could do that would lose your support?

MIKE ROGERS: Listen, if they're talking about using nuclear weapons, I would-they would definitely lose my support.

ABDUL EL-SAYED: I've never heard him say that, though.

MODERATOR: Dr. El-Sayed, you have opposed direct U.S. military funding to Israel, but if Israel were attacked tomorrow by Iran or another state actor, would you vote to provide defensive weapons necessary to protect the Israeli people? Yes or no, and you have 60 seconds to explain.

ABDUL EL-SAYED: I've been absolutely clear. I want our tax dollars spent here to provide schools here, and by here I mean Michigan, not Florida.

I want to make sure we've got good schools here and health care here. I want to make sure that we are taking care of people here. That is my priority.

You asked a hypothetical question about being attacked by Iran, but let's be honest about what happened here. Israel has pushed us to go to war in Iran, and of course my colleague, who thinks there's a war for everything, went right along with it. And here we are.

Israel had clear war aims. They wanted us to go to war with them, and their war aims were what? The annexation of southern Lebanon?

Ask yourself, are we safer because of that war?

He wants unconditional support for a foreign government. I want unconditional support for kids in our schools, unconditional support for our health care, child care, things that he would vote to defund.

So it's just inconsistent to me to be running for Senate from Michigan when you're more focused on what's happening to a foreign government than you are focused on what's happening to folks right here in Michigan. It's just not serious.

MODERATOR: If there was an attack, would you provide defensive weapons for Israel?

ABDUL EL-SAYED: I don't want our tax dollars buying weapons for other countries. I don't know what's so hard about that.

MIKE ROGERS: That's a no. I'll answer the question. Absolutely. He won't. He will not. Matter of fact, he would not even support Iron Dome. He wouldn't even support Iron Dome.

MODERATOR: We cannot do this for every question, Dr. El-Sayed.

Our next question addresses concerns from some in the Jewish community about your position on Israel.

A supporter told NewsNation's Leland Vittert at a rally that Israel is a bigger problem-or a bigger threat, I should say-to the United States than Iran.

Leland then asked you which country you consider the greater threat to the United States, and here's part of your response.

LELAND VITTERT: If you're going to be a senator, what do you view as the biggest threat?

ABDUL EL-SAYED: I've been more than extremely clear about this. I don't want our tax dollars being used to subsidize war abroad. I don't want our tax dollars being used to fund unconditionally foreign militaries.

I think it's important that we be the first among equals to enforce international law against any and every country that breaks it.