Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing mounting scrutiny after campaigning alongside Amir Makled, a University of Michigan regent candidate who previously shared social media posts praising Hezbollah figures and echoing rhetoric supportive of the Iranian regime.
Makled, who introduced El-Sayed at a campaign event alongside controversial commentator Hasan Piker, had reposted content referring to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a “martyr” and calling for intensified action against Israel.
Additional resurfaced posts included amplification of extreme anti-Israel rhetoric from public figures. Though many of the posts have since been deleted, critics argue they reflect deeply troubling positions. Makled has also been active in defending students involved in anti-Israel campus protests that led to criminal charges.
The controversy comes as El-Sayed continues outreach to progressive and activist circles ahead of a key political contest. Neither El-Sayed nor Makled has publicly addressed the reports. The situation is further complicated by ongoing tensions at the University of Michigan, where pro-Israel and anti-Israel factions have clashed, including incidents of antisemitic vandalism targeting pro-Israel figures.