Michigan Senate Candidate El-Sayed Faces Backlash After Posts Attack Usha Vance and Trump Aide

Abdul El-Sayed is accused of making a racial reference about Usha Vance after taking aim at JD Vance and later sparring with a Trump White House aide

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing growing backlash over social media posts targeting Vice President JD Vance's wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, and a female aide to President Donald Trump.

The controversy erupted after El-Sayed responded to criticism from JD Vance over his previous comments concerning Sharia law.

During a Saturday post, El-Sayed wrote, "So do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no…"

Critics interpreted the remark as a reference to Usha Vance's Indian heritage and accused the Democratic candidate of making a racially charged attack.

Former Florida state Rep. Ben Graber criticized El-Sayed for bringing the vice president's wife into the political dispute.

"El Sayed is now attacking Wives [sic] of US leaders? What a guy," Graber wrote on X.

Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, also questioned the implication behind El-Sayed's comment.

"Why does Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed just assume that all White midwestern grandparents are racist?" Gill wrote.

El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for clarification about what he intended by the remark.

Another clash with a Trump aide

The controversy came shortly after El-Sayed directed another social media post at Natalie Harp, a Trump White House aide.

President Trump had criticized El-Sayed for campaigning alongside far-left commentator Hasan Piker, who has previously made controversial comments about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Responding to Trump's criticism, El-Sayed wrote to Harp, "Natalie, I think he’s had a little too much iPad for the week. He needs his rest."

The post appeared to mock Trump through his relationship with the White House aide.

El-Sayed is running for the Democratic nomination in Michigan's Senate race against Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers.

The Michigan contest is expected to attract significant national attention, making the candidate's social media activity an increasingly prominent part of the campaign.

The backlash over the Usha Vance post has now put additional scrutiny on El-Sayed's rhetoric, with critics questioning whether personal attacks against political figures' spouses and staff are appropriate for a candidate seeking national office.