JD, Habibi: Muslim Senator-elect El-Sayed trolls Vance, Trump after historic Michigan win

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan's Senate race, becoming the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate.

In Short

• Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate seat, becomes first Muslim senator
• He mocks VP JD Vance and President Trump during victory speech
• Trump and Republicans attacked El-Sayed's Muslim identity and policies

Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated Republican candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan's closely watched Senate election to become the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate, took a pointed swipe at President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance during his victory speech, turning their campaign attacks against him into a moment of political irony.

Addressing Vance, El-Sayed called him "Habibi" and highlighted how the vice-president would be constitutionally required to administer the oath of office to him when the new Senate convenes in January.

"JD, Habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you're constitutionally obligated to swear me in, in January," the 42-year-old Democrat said.

He then turned his attention to Trump, who had repeatedly struggled to pronounce his name during the election campaign.

"I know you struggle with my name, so after JD swears me in, you can just go on and call me Senator," El-Sayed said, drawing attention to the Republican president's repeated remarks about his name.

El-Sayed's victory marks a historic milestone for Muslim representation in American politics. The former public health official, who is the son of Egyptian immigrants, will become the first Muslim American to serve in the US Senate.

The Associated Press called the race for El-Sayed early on Wednesday after he defeated Rogers, a former FBI agent and seven-term congressman. His victory also helped Democrats retain the Michigan Senate seat being vacated by Senator Gary Peters.

The result came amid a sweeping Democratic victory in the November 3 midterm elections, with the party taking control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate from Republicans.

El-Sayed's campaign was marked by repeated attacks from Trump and prominent Republicans, with his Muslim identity, foreign policy positions and progressive political agenda becoming central issues in the contest.

Trump had called El-Sayed a "jihadist" and invoked the September 11 attacks while urging Michigan voters to reject his candidacy. Republican Senator Ted Cruz had also alleged that El-Sayed was linked to the Muslim Brotherhood.

El-Sayed rejected the allegation, saying he had never been a member of the organisation and never would be.

Trump had also repeatedly drawn attention to his difficulty pronouncing the Democrat's name, an issue El-Sayed turned into a punchline during his victory address.

A former public health official and director of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services, El-Sayed emerged as a prominent progressive voice in Michigan politics.

The son of Egyptian immigrants, he campaigned on an agenda that included Medicare for All, reducing the influence of corporate money in elections, tackling economic inequality and redirecting public spending towards domestic priorities such as healthcare, education and infrastructure.

His campaign also called for an end to American funding for foreign wars and criticised US support for Israel's military actions.

El-Sayed first secured the Democratic nomination by defeating Representative Haley Stevens in a closely contested and expensive primary in August, overcoming opposition from sections of the party establishment.

The contest became increasingly divisive after Stevens endorsed Rogers shortly before the general election, despite having faced El-Sayed in the Democratic primary. Her decision exposed divisions within the Democratic Party over El-Sayed's positions on Israel and his association with political commentator Hasan Piker.

Rogers, meanwhile, sought to portray El-Sayed as too far to the left for Michigan. However, the Democrat prevailed, retaining the seat for his party following Peters' decision to retire.

His election marks a significant moment for Muslim representation in the United States Senate, while his remarks targeting Trump and Vance provided one of the most pointed moments of the election night.

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