‘It’s just straight bigotry’: Trump leads wave of Islamophobic rhetoric as midterms loom
US midterm elections are approaching amid a significant surge in Islamophobic rhetoric from prominent Republican figures, including Donald Trump and JD Vance. This hostile political climate coincides with historic electoral victories for Muslim candidates, such as Abdul El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani, who are breaking barriers in American politics. Researchers indicate that anti-Muslim sentiment and hate crimes have reached levels comparable to the post-9/11 era, with data showing a sharp increase in negative perceptions of Islam among the general public.
- ▪Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan's Democratic Senate primary triggered a 1,900% increase in Islamophobic social media posts naming him.
- ▪The ISPU Islamophobia Index rose from 25 in 2022 to 33 in 2025, while Pew Research found that 51% of US adults believe Islam encourages violence.
- ▪Donald Trump labeled El-Sayed a 'jihadist' from the Oval Office, and Vice-President JD Vance described him as 'very, very evil' during a rally.
- ▪Muslim representation in Congress has grown to four members with a fifth likely, a stark contrast to the zero Muslim members present in 2001.
- ▪Anti-Muslim hate crimes reported to the FBI have never returned to pre-2001 levels, with 63% of Muslims reporting religious discrimination in the past year.
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| Publication time | Sun, 13 Sep 2026 10:00:06 GMT |
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Abdul El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani. El-Sayed’s primary win means he could become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. Composite: Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenAbdul El-Sayed and Zohran Mamdani. El-Sayed’s primary win means he could become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. Composite: Getty ImagesUS midterm elections 2026‘It’s just straight bigotry’: Trump leads wave of Islamophobic rhetoric as midterms loomAs Muslims win historic victories, experts describe rise in anti-Islamic sentiment that rivals post-9/11 climateJoseph Gedeon in WashingtonSun 13 Sep 2026 06.00 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleWithin hours of Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s Democratic US Senate primary, Republican senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama declared that the party had “just voted…
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