American Senate candidate accuses Netanyahu of pushing US into Iran war

The Democratic candidate in Michigan’s Senate race accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of influencing the Trump administration’s decision to enter the war with Iran.

“We are in the war in Iran in part because of the advocacy of the Israeli prime minister,” Abdul El-Sayed told NewsNation chief Washington anchor Leland Vittert on Tuesday, according to The Hill’s report Wednesday.

“There’s no disagreement on that,” he added. “He came to the Situation Room and advocated for the war, and we’re now paying … for it. Our gas, our groceries are unaffordable, and that’s on top of the billions in tax dollars that we spend sending our money over there,” he said.

War fuels affordability concerns

The war began Feb. 28 with US and Israeli strikes on Iran. It has continued for more than seven months, driving up global energy prices as commercial oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively halted.

El-Sayed said he opposed US spending on foreign military operations. “I have been more than extremely clear about this: I don’t want our tax dollars being used to subsidize war abroad. I don’t want our tax dollars being used to fund, unconditionally, foreign militaries.”

Trump said in June that Washington, rather than Israel, was directing the war. Netanyahu later said Israel had “every right to self-defense” and would “exercise that right whenever necessary.”

An August Marquette Law School poll found that 75% of respondents believed the military operations were not “worth the cost.” Congress has since passed three House and one Senate Iran war powers resolutions urging an end to US military operations.

Michigan Senate race

El-Sayed, a physician and former Wayne County health director who won the Democratic nomination in August with the backing of Sen. Bernie Sanders, will face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers on Nov. 3 for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. The two will debate Thursday in Grand Rapids.

Rogers has reversed his position on Trump’s tariffs, calling for an immediate end to the US-Canada trade dispute. El-Sayed accused his rival of “flip-flopping,” writing on social media, “Donald is the reason we’re in a trade war. And he’s the reason you’re running.”

Recent polls have shown a narrow margin between the candidates.

Trump endorses Rogers, attacks El-Sayed

Trump endorsed Rogers on Wednesday while attacking El-Sayed as a “radical extremist” and “Terrorist Sympathizer.”

“Mohammed El-Sayed is a terrible Candidate for the Democrats. While his opponent, Mike Rogers, is an extremely good one, Mohammed goes back to the days of the Jihad,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump also called El-Sayed “no different from his best friend, America Hating Hasan Piker” and gave Rogers his “complete and total endorsement.”