Michigan Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed Advocates for Understanding Terrorist Motivations Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed suggests that understanding the pain and frustration driving terrorists is crucial for addressing terrorism, sparking debate about his approach to foreign policy and national security. A Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in the crucial swing state of Michigan has sparked a conversation by suggesting that understanding the motivations behind terrorist actions, such as the pain and frustration felt by perpetrators, is a necessary component of addressing terrorism. Abdul El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County health director, is campaigning for Michigan's open Senate seat in the upcoming 2026 midterms. His policy proposals include advocating for Medicare for All and free college education. El-Sayed has also been outspoken in his criticism of Israel's policies. A town hall event held in South Haven, Michigan, in July 2025, saw El-Sayed respond to a constituent's question about his approach to combating terrorism if elected to the Senate. The exchange, captured on video and initially reported by the Washington Free Beacon, revealed El-Sayed's perspective. While acknowledging that the United States' current strategy of employing military power against terrorist organizations is essential, he emphasized the importance of delving deeper to comprehend the root causes of such violence. El-Sayed stated, I also think we need to be curious about why those things happen in the first place, like, drives somebody to want to commit such a heinous act. He drew a parallel to his medical practice, explaining, I have to be a student of people's pain. Like, that's, that's what I did in medicine. That's what I try to do in politics, like, what, what happens when people are in pain? He characterized terrorism as political violence enacted to achieve a political objective. He further elaborated, There is a level of pain and frustration and a level of lack of agency that they have to feel to do something so insane and absurd, right? El-Sayed then connected these violent acts to a reflection on America's global behavior, suggesting that the U.S. might be acting in ways that make certain populations feel unseen. He argued that the U.S.'s adherence to a rules-based international order has been inconsistent, leading to perceptions of hypocrisy. According to El-Sayed, the United States should pursue responses that do not escalate tensions, and if elected to the Senate, he intends to bring empathy to discussions and strategies regarding terrorism. He criticized what he described as a self-righteous stance among Americans regarding global conflicts. El-Sayed articulated, I think that for us, there is strength in wisdom and there is strength in empathy, and there is strength in justice, and there's strength in consistency. As the son of Egyptian immigrants, El-Sayed has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in the Gaza War, previously accusing the nation of committing genocide against Palestinians. He has also shared a platform with internet personality Hasan Parker, who has expressed support for Hamas, stating that the group is significantly superior to Israel. In the ongoing Democratic primary race for the Senate seat, El-Sayed is competing against U.S. Representative Hayley Stevens and Michigan State Senator Mallory McMarrow. Fox News Digital has contacted Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed seeking comment on these remarks