If it quacks like a duck: The uncomfortable truth about Abdul el Sayed

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a Muslim Brotherhood duck.A few days ago, President Donald Trump claimed that Abdul el Sayed and his family are linked to the Muslim Brotherhood — a group designated as a terrorist organization and outlawed even in Arab nations such as Egypt, where it was founded.As expected, the immediate response from critics was to label Trump’s comments as racist. However, a quick look at publicly available records and Wikipedia highlights notable connections within el Sayed’s family network. His father, Mohamed el Sayed, serves as a board member for the Islamic charity Life for Relief and Development. In 2014, the charity reached a $780,000 OFAC settlement for transferring funds to Saddam Hussein’s Iraq (2002–2003) in violation of U.S. sanctions. Federal records and investigative reporting have linked current and former leaders of the organization to historical U.S. Muslim Brotherhood networks; for instance, CEO Hany Saqr appeared in a 1992 leadership directory entered into evidence during the 2008 Holy Land Foundation trial. The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, once considered the largest Muslim charity in the United States, was shut down by the federal government for funding Hamas.Furthermore, el Sayed’s father-in-law, Tayeb Jukaku, served as president of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations and remains on its board of directors. In November 2014, CAIR was designated a terrorist organization by the United Arab Emirates over alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. More recently, in November 2025, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation designating both the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations.These findings emerge from just a few minutes of checking public sources — without even diving into reporting regarding campaign contributions.Yet this issue extends far beyond mere family connections to the Muslim Brotherhood — it is reflected in el Sayed’s overarching ideology, which systematically aligns with the vision of Hassan al Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.Al Banna envisioned Islam not merely as a faith, but as a comprehensive political and social system. He instructed his followers to build schools, youth clubs, and community centers to spread Islamic influence, using social infrastructure as a stepping stone toward political power and the ultimate governance of Islamic principles.What we are witnessing today in America mirrors the dynamics long observed across Europe — in Britain, France, and beyond. From Zohran Mamdani in New York City to candidates seeking higher national office, the objective appears to be securing high-ranking political positions to reshape the establishment from within. Now, they aim for their next major milestone: a seat in the U.S. Senate.El Sayed represents a troubling departure from the classic American immigrant story. Historically, while the first generation of immigrants works to establish roots, the second generation fully assimilates — becoming proudly American, British, or German. Here, however, we see an effort to impose a religious and ideological agenda onto American society. They do not seek to integrate into the republic; they seek to transform and control it.Predictably, el Sayed and his camp responded with outrage to Trump’s remarks — despite those remarks being grounded in verifiable facts.The irony is striking when one considers el Sayed’s own record of hostile rhetoric regarding Israel. Let us be entirely clear: demonizing the Jewish state is not separate from antisemitism. Today, Israel stands as the national homeland and representative of the global Jewish community. Hostile, delegitimizing rhetoric aimed at Israel functions as a direct attack on the Jewish people.El Sayed has repeatedly leveled false, inflammatory accusations against Israel, brushing aside the concerns of the Jewish community. Yet, when Trump highlights plain facts about his family’s documented organizational networks, el Sayed suddenly plays the victim.I was not aware el Sayed was such a delicate soul — so eager to cast stones at others, yet so fragile when held accountable for his own background.WILL THE REAL ABDUL EL SAYED PLEASE STAND UP?And while el Sayed tries to dismiss claims about ties to radical networks, the irony reaches its peak when you look at his biggest financial patrons. It was recently revealed that Bernie Sanders personally transferred $1 million to el Sayed’s campaign. For a candidate accused of aligning with anti-Israel extremists and questionable elements, receiving a million-dollar lifeline from Bernie Sanders — a figure whose own rhetoric has long given comfort and political cover to the very same radical factions — says everything voters need to know.The voters of Michigan deserve clarity, not performative outrage. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, no amount of progressive spin will make it anything else.Mendi Glik is a software engineer, political commentator, and columnist for the Jewish Press. He is also a contributor to JNS, focusing on electoral strategy and political analysis.