"J.D., Honey!" El-Sayed's Trolling of Vance Went Viral on Social Media
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance made the left-leaning Democrat Abdul El-Sayed the main target of his attacks during the election campaign. But El-Sayed won the election in Michigan and, in his victory speech, poked fun at both Vance and Donald Trump.
Senator Abdul El-Sayed. Photo: Salwan Georges / Getty Images
In the November 3 election, 42-year-old Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the state of Michigan. He will become the first Muslim in the history of the U.S. Senate. His victory, with a solid 7-point lead, was particularly noteworthy given a campaign during which leading Republicans attacked him not only for his political views but also for his Muslim faith.
In October, speaking at a rally in support of Republican Mike Rogers, J.D. Vance accused Abdul El-Sayed of disliking America and disrespecting its history. He stated that the Democrat, who was born and raised in Michigan, should be grateful to the country for the opportunities he received.
The Vice President called El-Sayed a "little weasel" who should shut his mouth and be grateful to America.
In English, a *weasel* is not only the name of an animal but also a derogatory term for a cunning, sly person, like a fox in our context. El-Sayed responded that he was not a weasel but a *wolverine*, alluding to the name of the sports teams of the University of Michigan, which he graduated from — *Michigan Wolverines*.
After his victory, El-Sayed did not miss the opportunity to mock Vance. Speaking to supporters in Detroit, he addressed the Vice President directly:
"J.D., habibi, it's very funny that, according to the Constitution, you will be obligated to swear me in in January."
*Habibi* in Arabic means "my dear," "my darling." In this case, the affectionate address sounded like condescending irony towards a person who, shortly before the election, publicly insulted El-Sayed. The subtext here also emphasizes the distinctly masculine style Vance tries to maintain.
The people in the hall burst into laughter.
"Wolverines – 1, Buckeyes – 0," El-Sayed continued, alluding to the long-standing rivalry between the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, where Vance graduated. The latter's sports teams are called "Buckeyes" (Buckeyes).
Donald Trump also got his share. During the campaign, the president repeatedly mispronounced El-Sayed's name, calling him "Mohammed," and used the word "jihadist" in reference to him.
"Donald, I know my name is hard for you. So after J.D. swears me in in January, you can just call me Senator," the winner said with a laugh.
The video of the victory speech went viral on social media. Many called the address to Vance "trolling of the highest level."
Here is the full video of El-Sayed's speech:
Who is Abdul El-Sayed
The newly elected senator was born in Michigan to an Egyptian immigrant father who came to the U.S. to study. The politician himself studied biology and political science at the University of Michigan, after which he received a doctorate in public health from Oxford, where he studied on a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. He later graduated from Columbia University Medical School.
At 30, El-Sayed headed the Detroit Department of Health, later managing the corresponding service for Wayne County.
In the Senate election, El-Sayed advocated for universal free healthcare, higher taxes for the wealthy, and limits on corporate influence in politics. He also sharply criticized Israel for the destruction of Gaza.