Final Michigan Senate Debate: El-Sayed Ties Rogers to Trump While Rogers Calls Him Untrustworthy

Candidates trade personal attacks

At Wednesday’s debate, El-Sayed repeatedly argued that Rogers would serve as a “sock puppet” for President Trump in the Senate. He called Rogers’ platform a “MAGA vision” and blamed Trump’s policies for higher gas prices and grocery costs.

Rogers said El-Sayed was trying to make every answer about Trump. He also accused the Democrat of a “pattern of deception” and said voters had reason to question his honesty about his platform and past positions. El-Sayed answered some attacks by inviting the audience to play “MAGA bingo.” Rogers responded that the game should count how often El-Sayed mentioned Trump.

Dispute over allegations and support

Rogers sought to link El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood and suggested he had supporters in common with groups such as Hamas. El-Sayed has strongly rejected those allegations and disavowed any connection to the organization.

El-Sayed has said he was not raised by his birthmother after his parents divorced when he was young. Rogers accused him of trying to present himself as a victim.

Rogers also said some Democrats considered El-Sayed too extreme and claimed to be doing exceptionally well with Jewish Democrats who were afraid to support him. He alluded to El-Sayed’s frequent criticism of the Israeli government.

Iran and consumer prices

El-Sayed questioned Rogers about the Iran war, connecting the conflict to high consumer prices and describing Rogers as a hawk who has “a war for everything.” Rogers has called for the war to end, but warned that gas prices could rise further if Iran controlled the Strait of Hormuz or built a nuclear weapon. Asked whether Iran was a significant threat to U.S. national security, El-Sayed faced a question similar to one from the first debate. That earlier question asked whether Iran or Israel posed the greater threat, which El-Sayed called a “ridiculous hypothetical.” Rogers said Iran was “absolutely” a threat and called El-Sayed’s earlier answers an “absolute nonstarter” for someone seeking a Senate seat.

Taxes and trade divide candidates

Rogers argued that El-Sayed’s policies would require large tax increases, warning voters they would have little money left. El-Sayed criticized Trump’s tariffs but said he was open to some import duties, comparing their use to giving chemotherapy gradually. Rogers described Trump’s tariffs as a “mixed bag.” He questioned the trade war with Canada but said manufacturing was being reshored.