Sen. John Fetterman (D‑PA) pledged $100,000 in cash prizes to Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed for aligning with controversial figures. He made the offer during a Fox News appearance on “America’s Newsroom.”
Fetterman Offers $100,000 to El‑Sayed for 9/11 and Sister Rallies
Fetterman said El‑Sayed must hold a rally with streamer Hasan Piker on September 11, the 25th anniversary of the attacks, and explain why Piker once claimed America “deserved 9/11.” The senator argued that Piker’s remark shows a blatant disregard for the victims and their families.
Fetterman labeled El‑Sayed a socialist who “loves Sharia law,” citing a New York Times interview, and added that the candidate supports Hamas and Iran. He said these positions make El‑Sayed unfit for office.
The senator warned that El‑Sayed’s campaign now includes Piker, who “despises Israel and Jews,” and urged voters to remember who the candidate truly stands with.
He offered another $50,000 if El‑Sayed holds a rally with his half‑sister Eman Abdelhadi, accusing her of publicly celebrating Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre against Israel.
Fetterman has repeatedly attacked El‑Sayed for refusing to distance himself from Piker, noting that the candidate’s primary win relied on such controversial allies. He said the continued association threatens Michigan’s electorate.
Deleted tweets from 2020 and 2021 resurfaced, showing El‑Sayed claiming the COVID‑19 response should outpace the response to external threats because more people died, and asserting that the U.S. reaction to 9/11 was more egregious than the attacks themselves. The remarks were posted before being removed, according to The New York Times.
These statements have intensified scrutiny of El‑Sayed’s foreign‑policy stance and his alignment with figures who glorify terrorist violence. The controversy could influence Michigan voters ahead of the November election.
