From Newsweek · · 1m 10s
Pro-El-Sayed Grocery Ad Origins
Democratic Senate candidate denies link to viral anti-Semitic grocery ad.
In brief
Democratic Senate candidate denies link to viral anti-Semitic grocery ad. Abdul El-Sayed campaign says grocery ad endorsing him was created for Cenk Uygur's 2024 presidential campaign and has no connection to his Senate race. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Ad origins
The grocery ad was created for Cenk Uygur's 2024 presidential campaign, not Abdul El-Sayed's Senate race.
“The video’s origins lie in a completely different race, it was initially made it for Cenk Uygur’s 2024 presidential campaign.”
Ad content
The ad shows a couple discussing $7 set aside for 'killing Palestinians' and U.S. aid to Israel costing $161 per American taxpayer.
“we have to set that $7 aside for killing Palestinians... it’s costing us a lot of money to drop bombs on Gaza”
2024 figures
The 2024 version updated U.S. military aid to Israel from $3.8 billion to $26 billion, with $161 per American taxpayer.
“The $4 billion annual figure likely refers to the $3.8 billion that the U.S. sends in military assistance to Israel”
El-Sayed's response
El-Sayed campaign says the ad is 'not affiliated in any way' with his Senate campaign and he has condemned anti-Semitism.
“the ad is 'not affiliated in any way with the Abdul for Senate campaign…no one speaks for Abdul but himself and his campaign'”
Rogers' response
Rogers' campaign accused El-Sayed of anti-Semitism and said he is 'for every single Michigander'.
“Abby Ronson, a spokesperson for Rogers who has accused El-Sayed of being anti-Semitic multiple times on her X feed”
Backlash
Anti-Defamation League called the ad anti-Semitic, citing the 'myth that Jews are to blame for society’s problems'.
“the myth that Jews are to blame for society’s problems which it says has been 'central to antisemitism' throughout history”
Political reactions
Michigan Representative Haley Stevens and DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison criticized the ad as fearmongering and divisive.
“Do we need to lower costs by building more homes, securing people’s health care, and creating a fairer federal tax code? Yes, we do!!”
What to remember
Abdul El-Sayed campaign says grocery ad endorsing him was created for Cenk Uygur's 2024 presidential campaign and has no connection to his Senate race.
