CNN grills Tim Scott over ad using El-Sayed’s full name. Isn’t this an anti-Muslim signal?

by DBS Wire

Sen. Tim Scott denied that Republicans were attempting to emphasize Abdul El-Sayed’s Muslim identity by repeatedly using the Michigan Democratic Senate nominee’s full birth name in attack ads.

RAJU: Why use El-Sayed’s full name in attack ads? Are you trying to say, ‘Hint hint, he’s Muslim’?

TIM SCOTT: Not at all

RAJU: But why not just use the name he goes by?

TIM SCOTT: Listen, I go by Timothy Eugene. I get called that all the time. pic.twitter.com/p3YrkSYIfF

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 9, 2026

But CNN congressional correspondent Manu Raju was not satisfied with the answer.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, chaired by Scott, launched its general-election campaign against El-Sayed by identifying him as “Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed”—a name he does not ordinarily use publicly.

“Are you trying to say, ‘Hint, hint’ to voters, ‘He’s Muslim?’” Raju asked Scott.

“Not at all,” Scott responded. He argued that Republicans were simply directing voters toward El-Sayed’s own description of himself as “dangerous.”

“We should trust his words, not ours,” Scott said.

When Raju asked why the ad did not simply call the candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Scott replied that he also has a longer name.

“I go by Timothy Eugene, and so I get called that all the time,” Scott said before pivoting to El-Sayed’s policies and political associations.

The exchange, came as Republicans intensified their campaign to define El-Sayed before he could consolidate Democratic support following a bitter primary.

The NRSC ad calls El-Sayed “the most radical Senate candidate in America” and shows him alongside left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who once said America “deserved 9/11.” El-Sayed recently called Piker’s remark “dumb” but declined to disavow him, noting that Piker had apologized.

Scott accused El-Sayed of being “sympathetic” toward Hamas and said he should be held accountable for associating with Piker. Those are substantive political attacks. Whether they explain the ad’s fixation on El-Sayed’s extended name is another question.

The commercial also edits El-Sayed saying, “I’m pretty damn dangerous.” His complete statement was: “If you’re Chuck Schumer, I’m pretty damn dangerous”—a reference to challenging the Democratic establishment, not threatening Michigan voters.

El-Sayed has accused Republicans of attempting to “other” him through his Arab heritage and Muslim faith. If elected, he would become the first Muslim member of the United States Senate.

The Detroit-born physician and former county health director now faces Republican Mike Rogers in one of the country’s most consequential Senate contests. On Monday, El-Sayed revealed that he had spoken with Barack Obama as Michigan Democrats worked to reunite after the primary.

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