El-Sayed Under Fire for Deleted Videos Claiming Southern Border Not Important Issue, Calling for Replacement of Second Amendment

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is facing renewed scrutiny after old YouTube videos surfaced showing the candidate calling for the replacement of the Second Amendment and dismissing the southern border as a top concern for Americans.The videos, some of which have since been deleted or set to private, were reported by CNN’s K-File and come as El-Sayed prepares to face Republican Mike Rogers in November’s general election. Mr. El-Sayed narrowly defeated establishment Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens in the August 4 primary.In one now-removed clip, Mr. El-Sayed floated replacing the Second Amendment’s constitutional right to bear arms with a right to health care. In another deleted video, he argued that the southern border was not among Americans’ five biggest concerns, pushing back against what had become a central talking point for Republicans during President Biden’s term.CNN noted that the videos “are another example of how El-Sayed’s years as a prolific podcaster, commentator and social-media user have left behind an extensive record — some of it subsequently deleted — that Republicans could use to portray him as both ideologically left-wing and culturally out of step with swing-state voters.”Mr. El-Sayed’s campaign has sought to distance the candidate from the older footage. “Cherry-picked comments from old podcasts don’t reflect his beliefs today,” a campaign spokesman wrote on X, adding that Mr. El-Sayed “respects the Second Amendment.”Republican critics have seized on the revelations. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas urged voters to oppose the candidate, describing Mr. El-Sayed as a “true radical who has palled around with people that said America had 9/11 coming. “He wants to abolish ICE. He wants to stop border enforcement. He wants confiscatory levels of taxation for hardworking Americans,” Mr. Cotton added.The controversy adds to a string of damaging revelations for Mr. El-Sayed. He previously faced scrutiny after audio surfaced showing he had explicitly supported efforts to defund the police — despite having claimed he never used the phrase. That admission came from a 2020 radio interview.Despite the mounting criticism, Mr. El-Sayed has drawn support from prominent progressive figures. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York recently said he “represents the politics of the future” for America.

El-Sayed Under Fire for Deleted Videos Claiming Southern Border Not Important Issue, Calling for Replacement of Second Amendment

El-Sayed Under Fire for Deleted Videos Claiming Southern Border Not Important Issue, Calling for Replacement of Second Amendment

More from the New York Sun

Jack Smith Faces Senate Grilling Under Oath Over ‘Arctic Frost’ Probe and Alleged Targeting of Republicans

U.N. Rapporteur Albanese Walks Back Claim Antisemitism Refers to All People of the Middle East

‘The Incomer’ Is a Quirky Delight

Men Arrested Over Possible Terror Attack at U.S. Air Base in UK Are Released on Bail

SpaceX’s Starship Reaches Orbit, Key Step on Road to NASA Moon Base, Elon Musk’s Mars Colony

Dutch Officials Search Passengers From Israel For West Bank Goods That Carry Six Year Jail Sentence

In the Company of Nazi Evil

Trump’s Fiery Pep Talk Fuels USA Team to Historic Presidents Cup Comeback

More from the New York Sun

Jack Smith Faces Senate Grilling Under Oath Over ‘Arctic Frost’ Probe and Alleged Targeting of Republicans

U.N. Rapporteur Albanese Walks Back Claim Antisemitism Refers to All People of the Middle East

‘The Incomer’ Is a Quirky Delight

Men Arrested Over Possible Terror Attack at U.S. Air Base in UK Are Released on Bail

SpaceX’s Starship Reaches Orbit, Key Step on Road to NASA Moon Base, Elon Musk’s Mars Colony

Dutch Officials Search Passengers From Israel For West Bank Goods That Carry Six Year Jail Sentence

In the Company of Nazi Evil

Trump’s Fiery Pep Talk Fuels USA Team to Historic Presidents Cup Comeback