Abdul El-Sayed, First Muslim Senator, Earned Bill Clinton's Praise in 2007

Abdul El-Sayed, a 42-year-old Michigan-born Egyptian American, made history in the 2026 midterms by becoming the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. A resurfaced video shows former President Bill Clinton praising his oratory skills at a 2007 University of Michigan commencement. In the clip, Clinton lauded El-Sayed's valedictorian speech, wishing everyone who believes in a "clash of civilisations" could have heard him. El-Sayed later recalled Clinton advising him to consider politics instead of medical school, a suggestion he initially dismissed. El-Sayed, a former Detroit health director and Rhodes Scholar, defeated Mike Rogers with 52.5% of the vote. He previously worked on public health projects and helped rebuild Detroit's Health Department after the city's bankruptcy.