Vice President JD Vance told Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed to drop personal attacks on his wife and stick to policy during a MAGA Inc. rally in metro Detroit on Monday.
“I actually think that the people of Michigan think it’s kind of weird when you talk about another guy’s wife,” Vance said. “I think the people of Michigan would like you to talk about the public policy ideas … I think the people of Michigan would like you to talk about how you’re going to protect auto workers when you’re supporting every single policy that has undercut the wages and jobs of Michigan auto workers your entire life in public service.”
Vance then delivered a sharper line aimed directly at his opponent.
“But whatever you want to talk about, Abdul, keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth because she’s way out of your league.”
The remark came in response to a weekend social media post from El-Sayed asking “do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no” after Vance suggested Sharia law would have been an alien concept to his grandfather. Critics said the post appeared to target Usha Vance’s Indian heritage. El-Sayed later said his point was that Vance seemed to be suggesting some people are “more American” than others based on how long their families have lived in the country, noting that Vance’s own in-laws are immigrants.
Conservative commentator Ryan Girdusky weighed in on the exchange, writing: “If you’re a rural White American living in Michigan, just remember El-Sayed believes you’re a racist.”
Trucking and Immigration
Earlier in his remarks, Vance argued El-Sayed’s record on immigration undercuts his claims to support working people.
“We’re here to talk about protecting Michigan truck drivers, but also protecting the safety of every single person who drives on the road with a semi truck, which is all of us,” Vance said. “Here’s the crazy thing. Just a few years ago, Abdul El-Sayed said that we need to make sure that illegal aliens have driver’s licenses in this country. He would love to undercut the wages of American truckers.”
In 2018, El-Sayed voiced support for letting illegal immigrants obtain standard driver’s licenses, though he did not specifically call for granting commercial driver’s licenses needed to operate long-haul trucks to those in the country illegally.
Vance also called El-Sayed a “terrible evil” during the speech. El-Sayed fired back later Monday with his own list of what he considers evil.
“Evil is ripping healthcare away from working people in exchange for tax breaks for billionaires. Evil is making people pay more for groceries and gas while pushing for trade wars and actual war. Evil is dividing people for your own gain. Evil is selling out your morals for a little bit of power.”
El-Sayed added: “Michigan is better than being lectured to by sock puppets from Ohio and Florida. We understand what’s at stake, and Michiganders will show you at the ballot box this November when we send Mike Rogers packing.”
Despite their sharp differences on immigration, Vance and El-Sayed both support using tariffs to benefit American industry. El-Sayed won the Democratic primary for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat and faces Republican Mike Rogers in November. The El-Sayed campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
