El-Sayed, on Meet the Press, explains past Obama criticism and outlines midterm message
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed told NBC's Meet the Press he wrote his 2012 critique of Obama when he was "younger" and "angry", and that Democrats must win big to defeat election denial.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for US Senate in Michigan, said in an interview aired Sunday 11 October 2026 on NBC's Meet the Press that his past criticism of Barack Obama came from a time when he was "younger" and "angry". Washington ExaminerR ““I think the person who wrote those op-eds when I was younger — I was younger, right, and I was angry about circumstances,” el Sayed said.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ NBC NewsLC “Abdul El-Sayed addresses past criticism of Obama: 'I was younger’ and ‘angry’” Read at NBC News ↗ Mixed · 2Moderator Kristen Welker raised the topic because Obama is to campaign with El-Sayed in Michigan at the end of the month; in a 2012 HuffPost op-ed, El-Sayed had written that "Obama was not the right choice. He just wasn't the wrong one." NBC NewsLC “Welker asked El-Sayed about his plans to campaign with former President Barack Obama.” Read at NBC News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Obama is set to travel to Michigan at the end of the month to rally with el Sayed” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2El-Sayed said that comparing Obama's eight years with the 12 years since showed him "a really capable leader", called Obama a "mentor" who let him "grow up", and said any differences in approach come from having "learned from what he's done". NBC NewsLC “He added that he considers Obama a “mentor” and that great mentors “let you grow up.”” Read at NBC News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “it is because we’ve learned from what he’s done and because we stand on the shoulders of giants.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 1At a fundraiser on Wednesday Obama rejected the idea that El-Sayed is too far left, saying his support for a higher minimum wage and healthcare for all "doesn't seem crazy to me. You know, FDR was for that, too." Washington ExaminerR “it doesn’t seem crazy to me. You know, FDR was for that, too.”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 1On the midterms, El-Sayed said Democrats need to "win by massive numbers" so the result "is unquestionable", citing Donald Trump's threats to deny outcomes as in 2020; Trump told NBC on Saturday he would accept the results, "But we don't want cheating." NBC NewsLC “said his fellow Democrats need to “win by massive numbers” in the upcoming midterm elections so the result “is unquestionable.””“Trump said, “Of course I will. But we don’t want cheating.”” Read at NBC News ↗ Left · 1El-Sayed accused his Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, of insinuating he did not lose in 2020, and said he is concerned both men are "not committed to the institution of our democracy". NBC NewsLC ““I am concerned that Donald Trump and Mike Rogers are not committed to the institution of our democracy.”” Read at NBC News ↗
Left · 1He said he can win former Trump voters through a focus on healthcare, including Medicare for All, and fighting corporate interests, and hopes that message also reaches Jewish voters wary of his criticism of Israel. NBC NewsLC “El-Sayed said he’s confident he can win over former Trump voters with his campaign’s economic focus.” Read at NBC News ↗ Left · 1El-Sayed again expressed regret over his initial reaction to a March vehicle-ramming attack on a synagogue near Detroit, saying he wished he had "thought twice"; AIPAC mailers and a super PAC called Together for Michigan have targeted those remarks this week. NBC NewsLC ““If I step on somebody’s grief, of course I regret that.”“A super PAC called “Together for Michigan” also began airing ads this week centered on the remarks.” Read at NBC News ↗ Right · 1The Washington Examiner reported that polling shows a neck-and-neck race against Trump-backed Rogers, with Republicans putting in hundreds of millions of dollars in outside spending, and read Obama's involvement as a sign Democrats think they can flip the seat. Washington ExaminerR “Polling in Michigan appears to indicate a neck-and-neck race as el Sayed faces Trump-backed Mike Rogers” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- NBC News presents a broad interview write-up centred on Democratic strategy: beating election denial, winning over Trump voters, and El-Sayed's handling of the synagogue-attack controversy, with Obama as one section.
- Emphasis
- Election denial and 2020 Michigan context, healthcare message, outreach to Jewish voters, attack ads against him.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention polling showing a close race or Obama's remarks about El-Sayed at a fundraiser.
- Charged language
- “election denial”“fake electors”
- For example
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“Michigan was also among a handful of states where Trump supporters in 2020 sought to submit a slate of so-called fake electors” — NBC News
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- The Washington Examiner focuses narrowly on the Obama issue, framing El-Sayed as having to explain past criticism of Obama and noting he is more progressive than the former president.
- Emphasis
- The 2012 op-ed, El-Sayed's explanation, Obama's 'left wing' remark, and the close race and outside spending.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out the election-denial remarks, the synagogue attack controversy and El-Sayed's Medicare for All pitch.
- Charged language
- “more progressive Democrat”“left wing”
- For example
-
“who is considered a more progressive Democrat than the former president” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- El-Sayed is the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, facing Republican Mike Rogers.
- He told Meet the Press on Sunday that his past Obama criticism came from being younger and angry.
- Obama is set to campaign with El-Sayed in Michigan at the end of the month.
Abdul El-Sayed person
Says his Obama critique reflected youthful anger, that he now sees Obama as a mentor, and that Democrats must win decisively to forestall election denial.
““You grow up, you start to appreciate just how hard change is and how important it is to pick up and push,”” — Washington Examiner
“said his fellow Democrats need to “win by massive numbers”” — NBC News
Barack Obama person
Plans to rally with El-Sayed in Michigan and defends him against charges of being too left-wing.
““I’m going to go to Michigan to campaign for Abdul el Sayed,” Obama said.” — Washington Examiner
Left2 articles
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Abdul El-Sayed addresses past criticism of Obama: 'I was younger’ and ‘angry’
Neutral Video promo for the exclusive interview, headlined with the 'younger' and 'angry' Obama quote.
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Abdul El-Sayed says Democrats must ‘win by massive numbers’ to fend off GOP election denial
Neutral Detailed interview report on election denial, voter outreach and the synagogue-attack controversy, with factual context on 2020 Michigan claims.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
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El Sayed attributes past criticism of Obama to ‘younger’ and ‘angry’ self
Mixed Frames the interview as El-Sayed explaining away past Obama criticism, noting his left-leaning profile and a tight race.
- 11 Oct 11:26 First NBC NewsLC Abdul El-Sayed addresses past criticism of Obama: 'I was younger’ and ‘angry’
- 11 Oct 14:00 +2h 33m NBC NewsLC Abdul El-Sayed says Democrats must ‘win by massive numbers’ to fend off GOP election denial
- 11 Oct 16:57 +5h 31m Washington ExaminerR El Sayed attributes past criticism of Obama to ‘younger’ and ‘angry’ self
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.