President Trump told Punchbowl News that a 2024 Michigan Senate contest was "rigged" against Republicans, a claim offered without evidence. He insisted voters are angry at the GOP but not at him, despite a 39% approval rating in a recent Fox News poll. Trump downplayed his narrow 1.4-point win in Michigan, suggested Mike Rogers was unfairly deprived of victory in 2024, and misnamed Democratic nominee Abdulrahman El‑Sayed — a move El‑Sayed has called a racist dog whistle.
Trump Says 2024 Michigan Senate Race Was 'Rigged,' Misnames Opponent and Deflects Blame From GOP
Trump Identifies Another Election He Claims Was Stolen: ‘They Rigged Him Out of It’
President Donald Trump, in an interview with Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News published Friday, again asserted without evidence that a 2024 U.S. Senate contest in Michigan was "rigged" against Republican candidates. He repeated that voters are "very angry at Republicans," but insisted they are not angry with him despite a 39% approval rating in the latest Fox News poll.
Sherman pressed Trump about Michigan, where the president narrowly carried the state in 2024 by 1.4 percentage points. Trump described his victory as "easy" and suggested that former Rep. Mike Rogers — who lost the 2024 Senate race to then-Rep. Elissa Slotkin and is now the GOP nominee again — was unfairly deprived of victory.
SHERMAN: Rogers lost when you were on the ballot.
TRUMP: Yeah, uh—
SHERMAN: And now he's up again.
TRUMP: Well, he lost when I'm on the ballot and I won big in Michigan. But I happen to think he won. No, no. I think it was a rigged deal. I think they rigged him out of it. But he's a very good candidate. I think he should do well if we believe in polls. I actually sort of believe in polls.
Trump then misnamed Rogers' Democratic opponent, Dr. Abdulrahman Mohamed El‑Sayed, referring to him as "Abdullah" and saying "the actual name is 'Abdullah,' and then it's much longer than that." El‑Sayed has criticized Republicans for using his full name as a racial dog whistle, and he responded after his primary win: "They think they want to use my whole name against me... If you can't say the name — it's Abdulrahman — keep the name out of your damn mouth. I'll be happy to give you lessons."
There is no evidence provided to support Trump's claim that the 2024 Rogers–Slotkin contest was "rigged." The president's comments illustrate a broader pattern of challenging electoral outcomes without substantiating claims, while shifting blame onto political allies. The interview mixes political posturing, disputed assertions and personal barbs about an opponent's name.
Context: Trump’s claim about the race is unsubstantiated in the interview. His characterization of the Michigan result contrasts with the narrow 1.4-point margin he actually won. The episode has drawn attention both for the baseless allegation of a stolen race and for the controversy over El‑Sayed’s name and accusations of racialized rhetoric.
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