‘Don’t be a wuss’: Democrat tries to goad Trump into holding rally for opponent

PoliticsPresident Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)AP Photo/Julia Demaree NikhinsonBy Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.comDemocratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed believes he would benefit if President Donald Trump visited the state to campaign for his Republican opponent.El-Sayed implored the deeply unpopular Trump to hold a rally in Michigan for Republican Mike Rogers less than 30 days before Election Day in a crucial race to determine which party controls the Senate.El-Sayed laughed when a reporter asked him why he would think a Trump visit to Michigan would help him.“Everybody hates Donald Trump, frankly” the Democrat replied.“He wants everybody to know that he’s on the ballot. I want everybody to know that he’s on the ballot, too. Mike Rogers is a vote for Donald Trump. I want him to come and say it for himself. And I think he’s too afraid, and I know that all of Rogers’ people are being like, ‘Please don’t come, sir. Please don’t come.’ He is the best speaker on behalf of the Republican Party. How dare they tell him not to come, how dare they. So, I think he’s between a rock and a hard place: do you do what’s good for Donald Trump, or do you do what’s good for his party. Donald Trump can’t help himself.“So Donald, if you’re watching, don’t wuss out, man. Don’t be told what to do by Mike Rogers. You should come. You should tell everybody, come to Port Huron, go to Oakland County, you should go to Detroit, you should go to Grand Rapids ... you should go as many places as your little heart desires,” El-Sayed continued.“And you should tell everybody why you’re on the ballot. Your tariffs are on the ballot, and your war is on the ballot, and your drapes are on the ballot.“You’re welcome here for the next couple of months,” El-Sayed concluded, “and then afterwards, don’t come.”In a sign of the president’s unpopularity, Rogers broke with the president over the Iran war. The former Michigan congressman cut an ad late last month calling on the war to end while informing voters of his plans address affordability.According to data compiled by polling expert Nate Silver, El-Sayed leads Rogers by 3.4 percentage points. El-Sayed is ahead with 48.3% to Rogers’ 44.9%. Trump elicits shock, disgust after latest musing about political enemies: ‘I can do whatever I want’Trump may ‘terminate’ 2 advisers who worked for pro-Russia government as midterms heat upGold Trump statue on display at European Parliament — but here’s why president won’t like itTrump faces bipartisan outrage after nicknaming South Carolina Democrat with anti-trans slurTrump teases ‘midterm surprise’: ‘The Dumocrats never counted on this’ Howard Koplowitz is AL.com's Breaking & Trending Reporter for afternoons and nights. He has been with AL.com since 2015 and has served in a variety of roles, ranging from coverage of Donald Trump's first...