# Abdul El-Sayed snaps at UK journalist

> Michigan senator-elect questions British reporter's right to interview him after midterms win.
- Title: Abdul El-Sayed snaps at UK journalist · India Today | Shortify
- Summary: Michigan senator-elect questions British reporter's right to interview him after midterms win. Abdul El-Sayed refused to answer questions from a British…
- Keywords: abdel-sayed, michigan, senator-elect, journalist, voter-registration, election-day, pier-morgan, india, India Today
- Source: India Today — https://indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/michigan-senator-elect-abdul-el-sayed-clashes-british-journalist-voter-registration-election-day-3032590-2026-11-05
- Author: India Today World Desk
- Published: 2026-11-05T02:26:29+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: abdel-sayed, michigan, senator-elect, uk, journalist, voter-registration, election-day, pier-morgan, news, india
## El-Sayed's midterms win
Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed defeated Trump-backed Republican Mike Rogers in midterm elections to become the first Muslim American elected to the US Senate.
## El-Sayed questions journalist's right
El-Sayed asked Sky News US correspondent James Matthews whether he was registered to vote in Michigan, then said, 'Then why would I care to have a conversation with you?'

> Then why would I care to have a conversation with you?
## El-Sayed dismisses international relevance
El-Sayed claimed he did not care about UK opinions, stating, 'You know how many votes I want to get in the UK?Zero.I am never running for office in the UK ...

> You know how many votes I want to get in the UK? Zero. I am never running for office in the UK ... so I actually do not care what you think or the questions you ask.
## Piers Morgan's criticism
Piers Morgan called El-Sayed's remarks 'pathetic' and 'very patronising', saying the senator should show more respect to the UK and one of its best journalists.

> pathetic, and very patronising, by @AbdulElSayed . He should show more respect to the UK and one of our best journalists.
## El-Sayed escalates conflict
El-Sayed clapped his hands for emphasis and twice placed his hands on Matthews's shoulders, asking him to stop 'chasing' him around.

> chasing
## Video goes viral
A video of the confrontation went viral on social media, garnering more than 11.3 million views on X within a day.

> 11.3 million views on X within a day
## Key takeaway

Abdul El-Sayed refused to answer questions from a British journalist who couldn't vote in Michigan, sparking criticism from Piers Morgan.