---
title: "El-Sayed softens past Obama criticism ahead of Detroit rally"
url: https://www.heredetroit.com/2026/10/12/el-sayed-walks-back-obama-criticism-detroit-rally/
date: 2026-10-12T07:16:07-04:00
modified: 2026-10-14T15:44:14-04:00
author: "Melody Magana"
categories: ["Politics"]
site: "HERE Detroit"
attribution: "HERE Detroit"
---

# El-Sayed softens past Obama criticism ahead of Detroit rally

*Source: [HERE Detroit](https://www.heredetroit.com/2026/10/12/el-sayed-walks-back-obama-criticism-detroit-rally/) — October 12, 2026 by Melody Magana*

Detroit, Mich. — Weeks before sharing a Detroit stage with former President Barack Obama, Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed softened earlier criticism of Obama in a Meet the Press interview.

Asked about remarks from 2012 claiming Obama kept wars going and undercut civil liberties, El-Sayed said Obama inherited a hard hand and did his best. He likened old disagreements to tensions families work through across generations.

Obama is set to headline an Oct. 24 Detroit rally with El-Sayed and Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s secretary of state and the Democratic nominee for governor.

El-Sayed, a Democrat, faces former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in November. He also renewed an apology for a March remark after a Michigan synagogue attack that drew criticism from some Jewish residents, including Attorney General Dana Nessel.

El-Sayed said he regrets stepping on anyone’s grief and wished he had thought twice before speaking.