El-Sayed Essay Criticized Biden

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, wrote in 2022 that President Joe Biden exploited the death of a 9/11 plotter for political purposes. The essay, published in The New Republic, has resurfaced as a potential point of attack for opponents. It appeared shortly after the White House announced the drone strike that killed al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri on Aug. 1, 2022.

Biden stated that al-Zawahiri was deeply involved in the planning of the attacks that killed 2,977 people on American soil. Intelligence officials have long maintained that the al-Qaeda leader helped plan 9/11 and other assaults on Americans abroad. El-Sayed did not dispute these facts. He described al-Zawahiri as a craven terrorist who died with the blood of innocent civilians on his hands.

The core of El-Sayed’s argument focused on timing. He claimed the strike was designed to bolster the president’s approval ratings ahead of the midterm elections. He wrote that Biden was using the operation to flog War on Terror themes to resurrect a laggard term. He called the move troubling.

El-Sayed argued the strike gave the administration a fig leaf. He noted that it showed Afghanistan was not off-limits for direct action even in Taliban hands. He suggested that if Biden wanted to project strength, he should confront autocratic leaders in the region with whom the United States has traditionally been aligned.

This is not the first time El-Sayed has questioned high-profile counterterrorism actions. After Donald Trump ordered the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani, El-Sayed warned that one should not kick a rabid dog. He also called the Obama administration’s killing of U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen an extrajudicial assassination. He has compared Trump to Osama bin Laden, suggesting both inspired terrorism and that Trump should be held to account.

El-Sayed’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on Wednesday. The essay was first reported by the Washington Free Beacon. It remains a primary source for critics seeking to test El-Sayed’s consistency on military intervention.

The candidate is seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate from Michigan. The resurfaced text provides a written record of his stance on executive power in foreign affairs from 2022. It contrasts with the typical campaign focus on domestic issues.