A controversial ad criticizing Israel and backing Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has been repackaged from the failed 2024 presidential campaign of Cenk Uygur, co-founder of “The Young Turks” and uncle of far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker.
Uygur originally used the commercial to promote his campaign and advocate for a cease-fire in Gaza. It features a couple blaming US aid to Israel for rising grocery prices.
His Rebellion PAC later revived the spot to attack Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers and criticize him over US support for Israel.
Uygur mounted a primary challenge to former President Joe Biden even though, as a naturalized citizen born in Turkey, he was not eligible to serve as president.
The Constitution requires the president to be a natural-born US citizen.
The updated version of the ad debuted last Friday before gaining widespread attention Monday.
“Honey, you’re going to have to put those eggs back,” the woman says in the commercial. “They like eggs, but we have to set that $7 aside for killing Palestinians.”
“Don’t we give Israel $4 billion a year anyway?” the man asks.
“Yeah, and now we’re giving them another $26 billion,” she replies. “It’s like $161 per person. Apparently it’s costing us a lot of money to drop bombs on Gaza.”
The commercial’s claims come as a dozen eggs cost roughly $2.27 on average, while bananas average about $0.66 per gram, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data — approximately 30 cents less than in January, before the war in Iran began.
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National gas prices, meanwhile, average $4.27 per gallon, according to the latest figures from the American Automobile Association.
Roxie Richner, a spokesperson for El-Sayed’s campaign, told The Post Monday that the commercial “is not affiliated in any way” with the Democratic candidate’s campaign.
“Abdul is focused on pushing back against Trump’s agenda that is raising prices for Michiganders,” Richner said. “No one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign.”
The spot quickly drew condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.
“If [Abdul El-Sayed] truly means what he says about treating the Jewish community as he would treat his own children, then he would immediately condemn this dangerous ad as outrageously antisemitic and demand that it be taken down,” outgoing Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) wrote on X.
“If not, then he’s full of sh—.”
Despite the backlash, Uygur defended the ad.
“If you think this ad is antisemitic, you’ve lost your mind, and you don’t know it,” Uygur told The Post Monday when asked about the controversy.
“It’s saying we’re giving too much money to a foreign nation — and they’re misusing it,” he said angrily.
“There’s nothing more normal than that. But when someone criticizes the government of Israel, and you hear ‘They hate all Jews,’ get clinical help.”
