Abdul El-Sayed becomes first Muslim in U.S. Senate, Arab media celebrate

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democrat of Egyptian origin, won a Senate seat in Michigan during the November 3 midterms, becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, a milestone celebrated across Arab media. The 42-year-old physician and former Detroit health director faced attacks on his religion and background during the campaign, which he framed as a "revenge" victory. His victory speech in Detroit, greeted with Egyptian celebratory ululations, emphasized pride in his heritage. Arab outlets highlighted El-Sayed's critical stance on U.S. support for Israel, while his win was widely described as "historic." The election coincided with President Trump's announcement ending U.S. military aid to Israel, raising concerns in Israel about losing its key ally.