Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, D-Mich., went viral this week after a heated encounter with a reporter, renewing scrutiny of his repeated clashes with members of the press.
El-Sayed confronted Sky News correspondent James Matthews just hours before securing victory in Tuesday’s midterm election. While the exchange began with Matthews attempting to ask a question, it was far from the first instance in which El-Sayed appeared to lose his patience, interrupt a journalist or answer sharply.
Tim Young, a Heritage Foundation media fellow, recognizes that President Donald Trump also has a long record of criticizing reporters. However, he told Fox News Digital that he sees a significant distinction between the two situations.
“El-Sayed gets angry at the media for asking actual questions about him and his relationship to organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood. He legitimately doesn’t want to answer those questions, so he snaps,” Young said.
“Trump gets asked the same narrative-shaping questions all the time, then watches networks create false narratives about him on air, which makes him angry,” Young added. “The two are not the same.”
In one recent exchange, El-Sayed reprimanded a reporter who asked about Democratic Michigan Rep. Haley Stevens, responding sarcastically, “You’re really asking the questions that the people want to hear.”
“Ask me a serious question,” he continued.
El-Sayed also became visibly frustrated with NBC News anchor Tom Llamas in October when Llamas questioned him about allegations concerning his family’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
“It’s funny to me. I was born in 1984, down the street in Rochester Hills. I was raised here in Michigan, went to the University of Michigan, rebuilt the health department in this city, led the health department in this county, and you want to ask me about Egypt in 1970? Are you serious?” El-Sayed replied.
He accused Llamas of relying on “hearsay evidence from a tweet” and said the “NBC Nightly News” anchor was “not serious.” El-Sayed then asked, “Are you insinuating that somehow I was lying?”
That month, El-Sayed also dismissed a question from Free Press reporter Audrey Fahlberg about private remarks he allegedly made in leaked audio concerning Michigan residents mourning the death of Ayatollah Khamenei.
El-Sayed said he was willing to discuss gas prices and grocery costs but refused to address the “leaked audio,” accusing Fahlberg of pursuing a clickbait story.
“I’m just not interested in this dog and pony show,” El-Sayed said. “Ask smart questions.”
Fahlberg argued that his views on Khamenei were relevant because El-Sayed frequently speaks about foreign policy, but he declined to continue the discussion.
Fahlberg later said El-Sayed seemed to become particularly angry when questioned about Iran’s ruling regime.
Several weeks later, El-Sayed sparred with Fox News “Special Report” anchor Bret Baier, repeatedly cutting him off during a discussion about the Muslim Brotherhood.
El-Sayed has also described his willingness to confront high-profile media figures.
“You know how many terrible things Bill Maher has said about people like me? Terrible, awful things,” El-Sayed said during a September interview with Chuck Todd.
“I would go on that show,” he added. “I wanna give people the image of watching him get his a– whooped on his own show by a guy who prays like I do.”
The latest controversy unfolded on Election Day, when El-Sayed approached Matthews and asked, “Are you registered to vote in the state of Michigan?”
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“I’m not,” the British journalist, who is based in the United States, replied.
“Why would I care to have a conversation with you?” El-Sayed shot back.
When Matthews explained that he was a journalist, El-Sayed scoffed and responded, “In the U.K.”
“You know how many votes I want to get in the U.K.? Zero,” El-Sayed told Matthews while placing both hands on the reporter’s shoulders. “I’m never running for office in the U.K.”
Matthews countered that the 2026 US midterm election “matters to the world” and reminded El-Sayed that he was seeking a seat in the Senate.
“A senator in where? What country? What country?” El-Sayed replied as he again placed his hands on Matthews’ shoulders.
“The United States,” Matthews answered.
“What country are you with?” El-Sayed asked.
“I’m based in the United States,” Matthews said.
“But you report for where? Where are your viewers?” El-Sayed interrupted.
After Matthews explained that Sky News reaches an international audience, El-Sayed dismissed the network, claiming it is not watched in the United States and sarcastically saying that “like five people” view it in the country.
“I’ve answered all the questions. I’ve answered all the questions for the viewers of the United Kingdom. So, I’m going to ask you to stop chasing me around. Please,” El-Sayed said before walking away. Matthews denied that he had been “chasing” the candidate.
“If you keep being in my way, I’m not going to be very happy,” El-Sayed told him.
Video of the encounter spread rapidly online, with critics focusing especially on El-Sayed’s physical contact with the reporter. Piers Morgan described the exchange as “pathetic” and “very patronizing.”
Reason’s Reem Ibrahim said El-Sayed “looks like an absolute p—k,” while former Israeli spokesperson Eylon Levy labeled him a “bully.”
Students for Trump founder Ryan Fournier called El-Sayed’s conduct “unhinged.” Spencer Pratt, meanwhile, asked, “Why is this angry little Elf Sayed so comfortable putting hands on another man like that?”
Jocelin Martinez, a communications trainer who works with clients on media preparation and message development, said she does not believe El-Sayed needs to change his approach after his decisive defeat of Republican challenger Mike Rogers in a closely watched Senate race Republicans had hoped to flip.
“El-Sayed’s communication style got him elected in Michigan because the moment requires leadership with gumption,” Martinez told Fox News Digital.
The El-Sayed campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
