Abdul El-Sayed Campaigns With Louis Farrakhan's Antisemitic 'Student Minister' Who Recently Pushed Conspiracy Theory That Jews Ran the Slave Trade

Marcus Muhammad introduced El-Sayed at a rally in Benton Harbor

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed continues to double down on his public associations with antisemites, campaigning Thursday alongside a Nation of Islam "student minister" and acolyte of the antisemitic group's longtime leader, Louis Farrakhan, who has referred to Jews as "termites" and praised Adolf Hitler.

The left-wing Democrat appeared with Marcus Muhammad at a get-out-the-vote rally in Benton Harbor, where Muhammad serves as mayor. "Allow me to introduce the next United States Senator representing the State of Michigan," Muhammad wrote in a caption of a photo with a much shorter El-Sayed.

Muhammad, despite his mayoral responsibilities, has not shied away from promoting Farrakhan's virulently antisemitic conspiracy theories. He recently promoted a video of Farrakhan discussing The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews Vol. 2, a pseudoscientific Nation of Islam work that claims Jews controlled the transatlantic slave trade.

It comes as El-Sayed faces mounting criticism from moderate and Jewish Democrats in the closing days of the pivotal Senate race over his anti-Israel remarks and what former Michigan Democratic Party chairman Lon Johnson recently called "his reluctance to unequivocally condemn dangerous rhetoric" against Jews.

On the eve of the eve of the eve of our BIG and important election, a unifying moment has arrived, our democratic nominee for U.S Senate disavows the Rebellion PAC ad made by Hasan Piker’s uncle that claims Jews are responsible for America’s economic woes. We have learned from… pic.twitter.com/y8BRiV9odX

— Haley Stevens (@HaleyforMI) October 30, 2026

"For days, Abdul's only answer to the Rebellion PAC advertisement produced by Hasan Piker's uncle, Cenk Uygur, was that his campaign was 'not affiliated' with it. ... I have learned from Democratic Party leaders and emissaries, as reported in the news media, that Dr. El-Sayed has heard the deep concerns of the Jewish community and is now, for the first time in his campaign, formally condemning that ad for what it is."

Muhammad is an influential figure in the Nation of Islam and a staunch defender of Farrakhan, who has hailed Adolf Hitler as a "great man" and compared Jews to "termites."

Muhammad, who rose through the Nation of Islam's ranks in Chicago, has repeatedly amplified the Nation's and Farrakhan's antisemitic rantings, the Washington Free Beacon reported. In addition to promoting the conspiracy video about Jews controlling the slave trade, Muhammad has also promoted a 2023 Farrakhan speech in which Farrakhan rationalized Hitler's actions in Nazi Germany, stating that "Hitler went against usury and Hitler attacked pornography that the Jews had put on the Germans."

Muhammad has invoked antisemitic conspiracy theories of his own.

In an interview with Nation of Islam members in May, Muhammad referred repeatedly to "the enemy"—a term the Nation of Islam often uses to refer to Jews—while discussing The Israel Lobby, a book that alleges Jews malignantly shape American foreign policy. "They have the muscle, they have the money, they have power, they have influence," said Muhammad.

Bible John 7:13
New Living Translation
But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.
English Standard Version
Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. @LouisFarrakhan pic.twitter.com/b2pRPzNdTy

— Mayor Marcus Muhammad (@marcus4polytics) July 16, 2020

In 2021, Muhammad wrote of "the ongoing Jewish and Gentile Kristallnacht against Black Muslim businesses," invoking the Holocaust-era Nazi pogrom against Jews. Muhammad has called the Nation of Islam's "Muslim Program," an influential treatise that calls for racial segregation and states that "intermarriage or race mixing should be prohibited," the "ultimate solution" to America's "race problem."

I was invited to visit Israel on a Mayors Peace mission and declined because of the vitriolic disposition toward Muslims. I was also advised otherwise by the Honorable Minister @LouisFarrakhan due to the great dangers and hatred that exist. pic.twitter.com/b262CF1hiy

— Mayor Marcus Muhammad (@marcus4polytics) August 15, 2019

Muhammad's rhetoric and ties to the Nation of Islam have also drawn scrutiny from organizations that combat antisemitism.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), a coalition of 700 groups that fight antisemitism, removed Muhammad from its mayoral advisory board earlier this year following a Free Beacon report about his remarks about Israel and Jews and his affiliation with the Nation of Islam.

"CAM was recently made aware of positions and affiliations held by Mayor Muhammad that are inconsistent with CAM's mission. As a result, CAM decided he will no longer serve on the board, and he was notified accordingly," a spokesperson said, citing the Nation's "notorious record of antisemitism."

CAM also called out El-Sayed for stoking vitriol against Jews.

"The conspiratorial rhetoric espoused by Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has placed a target on the backs of Jews across Michigan and beyond," the CAM spokesman said.

Other Nation of Islam leaders have rallied behind El-Sayed in the closing days of the campaign, though the Nation of Islam as a whole has not issued an endorsement in the race.

CAIR Action’s super PAC Unity & Justice is sponsoring a “unity canvass” happening at Amir Makled’s Dearborn law firm. Press conference soon. Attendees: state Rep. Donavan McKinney, U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, city council’s Denzel McCampbell and Wayne County treasurer Eric Sabree. pic.twitter.com/HsMabQ4473

— Sam Robinson (@samueljrob) October 28, 2026

Troy Muhammad, who appeared with El-Sayed at an event last year, has threatened Jews for criticizing Farrakhan.

"Those like the Jews who, like Goliath, they think that they're big, but Farrakhan will bring them down," he said in a 2018 video recording unearthed by the Free Beacon.

He also issued thinly veiled threats against Jewish groups who had criticized Farrakhan.

"Behind me is [sic] soldiers you see and some that you don't see. And you might not see it until it's too late, if you keep playing with the minister," said Troy Muhammad, surrounded by dozens of Nation of Islam members. "So all of you who represent Satan, the ADL, and all your Negro imps … get off the track before you get ran over by a train."

El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.