Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleUS President Donald Trump repeated Islamophobic rhetoric and conspiracy theories about Democrats at rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, according to Al Jazeera. The events came just before the November 3 midterm elections, which will decide who controls Congress during the last two years of Trump’s term.
Claims about a Michigan Senate candidate
At both rallies, Trump called Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic US Senate candidate from Michigan, a “jihadist”, Al Jazeera reported. He joked that if El-Sayed won, the Senate would need a special metal detector to screen him at the door. The crowd laughed.
Trump also repeated claims, described by Al Jazeera as unfounded, that El-Sayed belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood. The US has designated some branches of the transnational group as foreign “terrorist” organisations.
In Iowa, Trump said he would “love” to see Democratic Representative Haley Stevens switch parties. Stevens lost the Michigan primary to El-Sayed and has since endorsed his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers.
At both events, Trump also went after Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar. He claimed she was once married to her brother and had children with him. Al Jazeera noted that he offered no evidence.
Attacks in Kansas and a push to vote
In Kansas, Trump criticized Adam Hamilton, a church pastor and the Democratic Senate candidate, over his support for trans rights. He called Hamilton a “stiff” who reads his sermons from teleprompters.
Trump repeatedly urged supporters to turn out, asking them to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” Al Jazeera said he was trying to energize Republican voters, with polling suggesting the party could face a bruising election.
Both speeches were interrupted several times by hecklers. The rallies had been cancelled last week and were then suddenly rescheduled. They were Trump’s last travelling events before the vote.
Beyond the attacks on candidates, Trump spoke at length about several other topics. These included the US-Israel war on Iran, the cost of living, immigration, perceived media bias against him and former President Joe Biden’s administration.
Two states that could flip
Republican lawmakers hold most of the seats in Iowa and Kansas, but polling suggests Democrats could flip both states, Al Jazeera reported.
Kansas has five federal seats on the ballot: one Senate seat and all four House seats. The state last elected a Democratic senator in 1932.
In Iowa, the Senate race is too close to call. Polling suggests two Iowa state representative seats that are up for grabs are leaning Democratic.
The midterms will determine control of Congress for the remainder of Trump’s presidency.
Source: Al Jazeera
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