Michigan Senator- Elect Endorses End to US Military Aid for Israel
Abdul El-Sayed calls the move correct while noting that Democrats hold a 54-seat majority in the new Senate.
By Rebecca Foster ·
Democratic senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed from Michigan publicly supported President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States will stop providing military aid to Israel at the end of this year. El-Sayed, who defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Tuesday's election, told NPR that the policy shift is correct.
El-Sayed compared the situation to a broken clock that is right twice a day. He stated that he wants the United States to stop selling weaponry used for what he called the worst actions, including genocide and apartheid. He argued that the country has a responsibility to keep that money domestically to invest in local needs.
Most US aid to Israel is legally required to be spent on American-produced weapons. Trump claimed he agreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to wrap up aid by the end of 2026. This timeline contradicts Netanyahu's previous statements about winding down aid gradually over ten years. The current aid package is not scheduled to expire until the end of 2028.
Trump said he was halting aid at Netanyahu's request, arguing that Israel no longer needs the funds. The president also stated the shift would take away the ability of critics like El-Sayed to complain that the US provides more military aid to Israel than to any other country.
El-Sayed expressed support for probes into Israel at the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice. The Trump administration has worked to halt these investigations. El-Sayed added that the US should treat Israel objectively, just like any other country.
In interviews with the Associated Press and NBC, El-Sayed declined to say whether he will support Chuck Schumer for another term as Senate Democratic leader. Democrats won the Senate in the midterm elections, giving them at least 54 seats. Schumer is set to become the majority leader, a position he last held in 2024.
Schumer, a moderate who has been critical of Netanyahu, supported El-Sayed's race. Schumer said in a statement that Senate Democrats are united in their support for El-Sayed because he will fight for the economic interests of working families in Michigan. El-Sayed said he believes new leadership is needed and that people are hungry for it.
El-Sayed said he is interested in seeing what options exist when working with the rest of the caucus. His vote on the leadership question will not be decisive because of the party's seat count. Schumer is expected to retain the leadership position.
