Cruz calls Michigan Senate candidate El-Sayed "jihadist leprechaun" over Muslim Brotherhood claims
At a campaign event in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Sen. Ted Cruz tied Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed denies, and predicted AOC would be the 2028 nominee if El-Sayed wins.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, campaigning in Grosse Pointe Woods outside Detroit on Wednesday 28 October, said "My nickname for the guy is the jihadist leprechaun" about Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. CBS NewsLC “"My nickname for the guy is the jihadist leprechaun," Cruz said about El-Sayed.” Read at CBS News ↗ NewsweekN “while campaigning for Republicans in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Cruz tried to tie El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, a claim El-Sayed has repeatedly denied. Cruz said El-Sayed could get top-level security clearance and be put on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and that "if I am correct that he is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, there is a very real risk that Americans will die as a result." CBS NewsLC “El-Sayed would get top-level security clearance as a U.S. Senator if elected” Read at CBS News ↗ NewsweekN ““If I am correct that he is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, there is a very real risk that Americans will die as a result,” Cruz said.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1According to Newsweek, Cruz also said that if El-Sayed learned of a planned operation against terrorists, "he would let those terrorists know." NewsweekN “"We have every reason to believe that Abdul El-Sayed, if he found out that they're about to apprehend these terrorists, that he would let those terrorists know,"” Read at Newsweek ↗
Left · 1Cruz pointed to El-Sayed's past role as president of the University of Michigan Muslim Students' Association chapter, a 2011 op-ed backing protests against Egypt's Mubarak, and a 2012 open letter supporting Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Asked about "dual loyalties," Cruz said: "I don't know about dual loyalties. The demonstrated loyalties he has are to the Muslim Brotherhood." CBS NewsLC “Cruz also pointed to El-Sayed's role as president with the Muslim Students' Association chapter at the University of Michigan”“"I don't know about dual loyalties. The demonstrated loyalties he has are to the Muslim Brotherhood," Cruz told reporters.” Read at CBS News ↗ Left · 1The Muslim Brotherhood insinuation has been central to the closing message of Republican nominee Mike Rogers. It stems mainly from 2012 and 2013 posts by El-Sayed's half-sister saying their birthmother was active in the group in Egypt in the early 1970s. Some branches were designated terrorist organisations by the Trump administration in January. CBS NewsLC “has been a core part of the closing message for Republican nominee Mike Rogers”“The GOP claims mainly arose after posts from El-Sayed's half-sister, Fatten Elkomy, in 2012 and 2013” Read at CBS News ↗ Mixed · 2El-Sayed, born in Michigan in 1984 and raised by his father and stepmother, has said "I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood" and told NBC he has not discussed the matter with his birthmother, calling the allegations hearsay from a tweet. His campaign calls the claims "a bigoted anti-Muslim smear campaign" meant to distract from the economy. CBS NewsLC “"I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, I never will be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood."”“"a bigoted anti-Muslim smear campaign"” Read at CBS News ↗ NewsweekN ““You're using hearsay evidence from a tweet,” he said” Read at Newsweek ↗
Mixed · 2Campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak responded to both outlets that Cruz is "a deeply unpopular politician" and that the comments are the latest attempt by Rogers and "his MAGA allies" to distract from the cost of living. CBS NewsLC “Ted Cruz is a deeply unpopular politician who has long supported policies that hurt Michigan families” Read at CBS News ↗ NewsweekN “Cole Wozniak told Newsweek” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Cruz also said an El-Sayed win would make Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the 2028 Democratic presidential nominee, because it would undercut the argument that she is too extreme to win, and warned Republicans that "if she is the nominee, she could win." Newsweek said it asked her office for comment and that no candidate has formally declared for 2028. NewsweekN ““If El-Sayed wins, the Democrat nominee for president in 2028 will be AOC,” Cruz said Wednesday”“No candidates, including Ocasio-Cortez, have yet formally declared 2028 presidential campaigns.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Left · 1Rogers, at the same event, called the race the "most important race in the country" and said El-Sayed is a liar about Muslim Brotherhood ties. President Trump had recently called El-Sayed a "jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member." CBS NewsLC “calling the Michigan matchup the "most important race in the country."”“President Trump over the weekend referring to the Democratic candidate as a "jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member."” Read at CBS News ↗
Mixed · 2The race is expected to be very close. A WDIV-TV/Detroit News poll (Glengariff Group, 19–22 October) had El-Sayed ahead 51.4% to 45.1%, while InsiderAdvantage had 47% to 46% and Marist 50% to 48%. CBS News and Cook rate it a toss-up, and Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Lean Democrat. NewsweekN “A WDIV-TV/Detroit News poll released Tuesday found El-Sayed leading Rogers by 6.3 points among likely voters, 51.4 percent to 45.1 percent”“Cook Political Report rates the Michigan race as a toss up. Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it as Lean Democrat.” Read at Newsweek ↗ CBS NewsLC “CBS News Battleground Tracker rates the race as a toss up.” Read at CBS News ↗
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
- CBS News leads with the 'jihadist leprechaun' remark and treats Cruz's comments as an attempt to link El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, supplying context on the Republican campaign and El-Sayed's rebuttals.
- Emphasis
- The insult, the anti-Muslim smear charge from El-Sayed's campaign, the history behind the allegations (half-sister's posts, Morsi letter), Rogers' past remarks on the Brotherhood, and Trump's escalating language.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the Michigan polling numbers.
- Charged language
- “attempted to tie”“a bigoted anti-Muslim smear campaign”“anti-Muslim attacks”
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Newsweek frames the story around Cruz's prediction that AOC could win the 2028 presidency, with the El-Sayed security-risk remarks as a secondary strand.
- Emphasis
- 2028 implications, prediction-market odds and primary polling, Michigan polls, and race ratings.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 'jihadist leprechaun' remark, Rogers' and Trump's rhetoric, or the specifics Cruz cited about El-Sayed's past. The article was produced with the AI assistant Martyn.
- Charged language
- “escalated his criticism”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Cruz spoke at a campaign event in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, on 28 October.
- Cruz warned El-Sayed could endanger Americans if on the Senate Intelligence Committee, given alleged Muslim Brotherhood sympathies.
- El-Sayed denies any Muslim Brotherhood ties.
- Cruz said an El-Sayed win would make Ocasio-Cortez the 2028 Democratic nominee and that she could win.
- El-Sayed spokesperson Cole Wozniak called Cruz unpopular and said the comments were a distraction from the economy.
Where accounts differ
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Whether El-Sayed has Muslim Brotherhood ties
- Left
- CBS says Cruz 'attempted to tie' El-Sayed to the group, a claim El-Sayed has repeatedly denied, and notes the allegations stem from his half-sister's posts about his birthmother.
- Centre
- Newsweek reports Cruz's claims alongside El-Sayed's denial, noting only that he 'has denied' ties and that some governments designate the group or branches as terrorist.
Ted Cruz person
Says El-Sayed may be a 'passionate supporter' of the Muslim Brotherhood and a security risk on the Intelligence Committee; says he is not attacking how El-Sayed prays; warns AOC could win in 2028.
“I'm talking about ideology and advocating for and supporting a terrorist organization.” — CBS News
““Look, if she is the nominee, she could win,” Cruz said.” — Newsweek
Abdul El-Sayed person
Denies any Muslim Brotherhood ties, disavows the group, says his birthmother's past is not his, and calls the attacks a smear; his campaign says they distract from the economy.
“At a town hall earlier this month, El-Sayed said he "absolutely" disavows the Muslim Brotherhood.” — CBS News
““I have no ties. We have no ties,” El-Sayed said.” — Newsweek
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez person
Not quoted; Newsweek said it had asked her office for comment. CBS describes her as a top El-Sayed supporter.
“Newsweek has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's office via email on Wednesday afternoon for comment.” — Newsweek
“progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a top El-Sayed supporter” — CBS News
Left1 article
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Ted Cruz calls El-Sayed a "jihadist leprechaun" at campaign stop
Critical Leads with the insult and presents Cruz's claims against El-Sayed's denials and the weak, decades-old basis of the allegations.
Centre1 article
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Ted Cruz Predicts AOC Could Win 2028 Presidential Race
Neutral Treats the remarks as a 2028 and polling story, reporting Cruz's quotes and El-Sayed's denials with prediction-market and poll data.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 28 Oct 18:52 First CBS NewsLC Ted Cruz calls El-Sayed a "jihadist leprechaun" at campaign stop
- 28 Oct 18:56 +5m NewsweekN Ted Cruz Predicts AOC Could Win 2028 Presidential Race
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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