Trump repeats Islamophobic claims at final US rally stops

US President Donald Trump used his last two campaign rallies, in Iowa and Kansas, to repeat Islamophobic accusations against Democratic candidates ahead of the November 3 mid‑term elections.

At both events on Sunday, Trump labelled Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El‑Sayed of Michigan a “jihadist” and suggested a special metal detector would be needed for him in the Senate, jokes that drew laughter from the crowd. He also revived unfounded claims that El‑Sayed is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the United States has designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.

The president also targeted US Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, alleging, without evidence, a personal relationship with her brother. In Kansas, Trump criticised Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton, a church pastor, for his support of trans rights and mocked his speaking style.

Trump urged supporters to vote, asking them to “pretend I’m on the ballot”, as he sought to energise Republican voters before what polls suggest could be a challenging election for the party. The rallies, which had been cancelled the previous week, were rescheduled and featured interruptions from hecklers.

Both Iowa and Kansas are considered competitive, with Democrats potentially able to flip seats in the upcoming vote.

Source: Al Jazeera. Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels.