Rogers and Welker clash on Meet the Press over El-Sayed and the Muslim Brotherhood
In a combative Meet the Press interview, Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers denied calling Democrat Abdul El-Sayed a terrorist, defended his attacks over the Muslim Brotherhood and didn't say whether he is a MAGA Republican. Outlets differ on whether he broke with Trump, dodged, or was pressed unfairly.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2On Sunday 25 October, Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers gave a combative interview to NBC's Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press", in which he was questioned about his attacks on his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed. Raw StoryL “Near the end of a combative interview on “Meet the Press,” moderator Kristen Welker put the question to him directly.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Fox NewsR “accusing Welker of defending his rival during a heated exchange about the Islamist organization” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2Rogers said he has "never called him a terrorist" when Welker asked about President Donald Trump's description of El-Sayed as a "vicious, violent jihadist". Washington ExaminerR ““No, I don’t — I’ve never called him a terrorist. I’ve never called him a terrorist,” Rogers said.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Fox NewsR “Rogers rejected the suggestion that he had personally described his Democratic opponent as a terrorist.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The Washington Examiner noted that on 10 October Rogers said Dave Portnoy's calling El-Sayed a terrorist was "exactly right", and that after the primary he issued a statement saying El-Sayed "pledged his support to the Muslim Brotherhood". Washington ExaminerR “Rogers said on Oct. 10 that Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy calling el Sayed a terrorist was “exactly right”” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Right · 2Welker also read Rogers a 2012 statement in which he spoke of reaching out to "moderate" members of the Muslim Brotherhood; Rogers said his words were being twisted and that, as House Intelligence Committee chairman, he was trying to preserve Egyptian-Israeli intelligence cooperation and prevent more regional violence. Fox NewsR “Welker pressed Rogers on his own 2012 remarks, displaying a past quote where he said the U.S. would have to "reach out to and talk to" moderate members of the Muslim Brotherhood” Read at Fox News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “as chairman of the intelligence committee, I said we’re going to have to find a way to try to not sever that relationship” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Right · 1Fox News reported that Welker said El-Sayed had already disavowed the group and that there was no evidence for Trump's terrorism characterisation; Rogers replied "No, he has not" and said Welker was giving El-Sayed "a pass". Fox NewsR “"No, he has not, he dismissed the question ... I don't know why you give this guy a pass," Rogers said”“Welker challenged the accusation, saying there was no evidence to support it.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2The Washington Examiner reported that El-Sayed disavowed the Brotherhood at a town hall last week while arguing he was being asked because he is Muslim, and Fox reported that he denied family ties to the group when Welker asked on 11 October. Washington ExaminerR “During a town hall last week, el Sayed was asked to disavow the organization, which he did, but made a broader point that he is being asked to do such a thing because he is Muslim.” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Fox NewsR “He denied that he or his family had ties to the organization when Welker questioned him during an Oct. 11 appearance on "Meet the Press."” Read at Fox News ↗
Centre · 1Asked about Muslim constituents who feel alienated, Rogers said the issue "is not about Islam" but about El-Sayed's "adherence to this radical Islamic agenda", noting the Brotherhood is banned in five Muslim countries. Hindustan TimesN “Remember, the Muslim Brotherhood is banned in five Muslim countries. This is not about Islam. It's not about how he prays.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2Near the end, asked whether he considers himself a MAGA Republican, Rogers did not answer yes or no, instead criticising the national press and saying Jewish Democrats and Black voters in Detroit, Flint and Pontiac "can't vote for" El-Sayed, whom he called "a fringe candidate". Raw StoryL “Rogers didn’t say yes or no.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Throughout the interaction, Mike Rogers did not clarify whether he considered himself a MAGA Republican.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Right · 1Rogers' campaign spokesperson Abby Ronson told Fox News Digital that El-Sayed "deflects, gets angry and dismisses the question" about the Brotherhood; Fox said El-Sayed had not responded to its request for comment. Fox NewsR “Yet every time he’s asked about his support of the Muslim Brotherhood, he deflects, gets angry and dismisses the question.”“Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 2The allegations rest on reported family links, including social-media posts by El-Sayed's half-sister Eman Abdelhadi and a 2012 letter supporting Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi that El-Sayed reportedly signed; El-Sayed says he was raised by his father and stepmother and accuses Rogers of exploiting his faith. Fox NewsR “El-Sayed has maintained that he was raised by his father and stepmother and has accused Rogers of exploiting his Muslim faith for political purposes.” Read at Fox News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “as well as his signing on to a letter in 2012 supporting the decisions of a senior Muslim Brotherhood official in Egypt” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2Trump, who has endorsed Rogers, rallied with him in Port Huron the same day; the Hindustan Times said Trump called for El-Sayed to go through a metal detector at the Capitol and described the Brotherhood association as debunked. The race to replace retiring Sen. Gary Peters is close, with El-Sayed averaging a 3-point lead in RealClearPolitics polling. Hindustan TimesN “Trump also drummed up the debunked association of Abdul El-Sayed with the Muslim Brotherhood.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Washington ExaminerR “with the Democrat, on average, having a 3-percentage-point edge, according to RealClearPolitics.” 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.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Focuses on Rogers' refusal to say whether he is a MAGA Republican, with the interview going 'off the rails'.
- Emphasis
- Welker's repeated questions and Rogers' pivot to attacking the press.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on the Brotherhood allegations' substance or El-Sayed's disavowal.
- Charged language
- “goes off the rails”
- For example
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““It’s not answering my questions,” Welker said.” — Raw Story
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Frames it as Rogers dodging the MAGA question as Trump rallies for him in Port Huron.
- Emphasis
- Rogers' remarks on Muslim constituents and Trump's metal-detector comment.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the 2012 comments and the terrorist denial.
- Charged language
- “dodges”“debunked association”
- For example
-
“Mike Rogers dodged questions about being MAGA Republican, criticized Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s alleged ties to Islamism” — Hindustan Times
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Fox casts Rogers as fighting back against a hostile moderator; the Examiner stresses his split with Trump's language while noting contradictions.
- Emphasis
- The Brotherhood allegations, El-Sayed's family links, and the campaign's statement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither covers the MAGA question in the pieces read.
- Charged language
- “fires back”“giving him a pass”“vicious, violent jihadist”
- For example
-
“"You are giving him a pass on something he should be accountable for."” — Fox News
“Rogers broke with President Donald Trump on Sunday” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Rogers appeared on NBC's Meet the Press on 25 October and was questioned by Kristen Welker.
- Rogers said he has never called El-Sayed a terrorist.
- Welker raised Rogers' own 2012 comments about moderate Muslim Brotherhood members.
- Trump has endorsed Rogers.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Rogers broke with Trump over the terrorist language
- Left
- Presents the denial as part of a tense exchange without claiming a break.
- Centre
- Does not frame it as a break; reports Trump's metal-detector remarks separately.
- Right
- Washington Examiner says he broke with Trump but notes he earlier endorsed a 'terrorist' remark; Fox shows him rejecting the claim and attacking Welker.
-
Whether El-Sayed has disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood
- Left
- Not addressed.
- Centre
- Calls the association with the Brotherhood 'debunked'.
- Right
- Rogers says El-Sayed has not disavowed it; Welker and the Examiner say he has.
-
Who came off worse in the exchange
- Left
- Rogers dodged and the interview 'goes off the rails'.
- Centre
- Rogers 'dodges' the MAGA question.
- Right
- Fox: Rogers 'fires back' at Welker, who he says gives El-Sayed a pass.
-
Rogers has never called Abdul El-Sayed a terrorist
Reported- Disputes 1
- Washington Examiner
- Reports 2
- Raw Story, Fox News
-
In 2012 Rogers spoke of working with moderate members of the Muslim Brotherhood
Reported- Reports 3
- Raw Story, Fox News, Washington Examiner
Mike Rogers person
Says he has never called El-Sayed a terrorist, that the issue is El-Sayed's alleged Brotherhood ties not Islam, and that Welker is giving El-Sayed a pass.
“What you're doing now is trying to twist this thing to defend your position for letting him lie to you” — Fox News
“This is not about Islam. It's not about how he prays.” — Hindustan Times
Abdul El-Sayed person
Denies that he or his family have Brotherhood ties, says he has disavowed the group, and accuses Rogers of exploiting his faith.
“"No," El-Sayed said when Welker asked whether he or his family had any connections to the Muslim Brotherhood.” — Fox News
Donald Trump person
Called El-Sayed a 'vicious, violent jihadist' and urged a vote for Rogers.
“Trump referred to el Sayed as a “vicious, violent jihadist” on Friday while speaking with reporters.” — Washington Examiner
Kristen Welker person
Pressed Rogers on the MAGA question, his 2012 remarks and Trump's language, saying El-Sayed had disavowed the group.
““Congressman, I am asking about you,” Welker said.” — Raw Story
Left3 articles
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-
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'Not answering my question': Mike Rogers interview goes off the rails over MAGA query
Critical Presents Rogers as evasive on the MAGA question and hostile to the press.
Centre2 articles
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Critical Highlights Rogers' dodge and Trump's metal-detector remark, calling the Brotherhood link debunked.
Right2 articles
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Rogers breaks with Trump on el Sayed attacks: ‘I’ve never called him a terrorist’
Mixed Reports a split with Trump while pointing out Rogers' earlier terrorist-related remarks.
-
Sympathetic Portrays Rogers as pushing back on a moderator and details the Brotherhood allegations and campaign statement.
- 25 Oct 13:44 First NBC NewsLC Mike Rogers on Trump calling Abdul El-Sayed a terrorist: ‘I've never called him a terrorist’
- 25 Oct 14:31 +47m Raw StoryL Stumbling Mike Rogers flails as NBC's Welker throws his own words back in his face
- 25 Oct 15:13 +1h 29m Raw StoryL 'Not answering my question': Mike Rogers interview goes off the rails over MAGA query
- 25 Oct 15:20 +1h 36m Washington ExaminerR Rogers breaks with Trump on el Sayed attacks: ‘I’ve never called him a terrorist’
- 25 Oct 18:08 +4h 25m NewsweekN Mike Rogers Scrutinized Over Muslim Brotherhood Amid El-Sayed Attacks
- 25 Oct 20:33 +6h 50m Hindustan TimesN Mike Rogers dodges Kristen Welker's 'MAGA Republican' question even as Trump rallies for him in Port Huron
- 25 Oct 21:58 +8h 15m Fox NewsR Rogers fires back at Welker over El-Sayed's Muslim Brotherhood controversy, 'You are giving him a pass'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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