After midterm losses, Hannity gives Iran war full throated support, calls Abdul El-Sayed crazy
Hannity attacks El-Sayed
On his first show after the Republican losses, Hannity responded to El-Sayed’s criticism of the Trump administration. “We’ll just call you crazy, because you are,” Hannity said on Wednesday.
El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat from Michigan, became the first Muslim elected to the Senate on Tuesday. In his victory speech, he told Trump he could call him senator after JD Vance swore him in in January.
Trump’s comments on El-Sayed
At a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, late last month, Trump said El-Sayed should go through metal detectors at the Capitol if elected. Trump described him as a “Jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member” and said he would be the only senator required to pass through a detector before entering the Senate.
Trump held near-daily rallies during the month before the election to encourage his supporters and urged them to act as if he were on the ballot. After the Republican losses, he did not blame himself, according to the article.
War costs and election fallout
Hannity backed Trump’s war against Iran, which the article says was credited with contributing significantly to Republicans’ defeat as gas prices rose. He acknowledged that the eight-month conflict had left Americans paying higher energy prices.
Hannity said indecision had kept the conflict from reaching a quick outcome and that Democrats had capitalized on public anger over energy costs. He said he would not back down over one election-year loss and described political fortunes as cyclical.
Trump signals limits on cooperation
As election results came in, Trump told Fox News by phone that he was willing to work with Democrats in some areas. He said he would not compromise on immigration or transgender policies.
Hannity said Trump remained president and that congressional opponents would have to contend with the checks and balances of government. He also referred to Rosie O’Donnell while saying he would not go to Ireland because of an election-year loss.
Key points
- Hannity called Michigan Senate-elect Abdul El-Sayed “crazy” on his Wednesday program.
- El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the Senate on Tuesday.
- Hannity defended the Iran war but acknowledged Americans had faced higher energy prices.
- Trump said he would work with Democrats in some areas but not on immigration or transgender policies.