'Contrary to what we're taught': Abdul El-Sayed's Canada remarks resurface as he hits Trump

WASHINGTON, DC: Michigan Senate Democratic hopeful Abdul El-Sayed’s criticism of President Donald Trump’s Canada trade policy has resurfaced his 2023 argument that Americans had a better chance of achieving the “American dream” there.

El-Sayed had pointed to economic data on upward mobility in Canada while questioning whether the United States remained a land of opportunity.

His earlier remarks came during a May 2023 episode of his podcast, ‘America Dissected’, before his recent comments on the trade dispute, the NY Post reported on Wednesday, September 2. 

Abdul El-Sayed once pointed Americans toward Canada

“Economic data shows us that if you want to achieve the American dream, well, you should move to Canada because it’s twice as likely there. Here, where you start predicts where you end,” El-Sayed said during the 2023 podcast episode.

He had framed the argument as a challenge to the idea that Americans could rise economically regardless of where they began.

“Contrary to what we’re taught: that we are the land of opportunity, where anyone with a dollar and a dream can make it. In fact, too few people have that first dollar,” El-Sayed said.

The report also cited Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development data showing that US median household disposable income was $66,155 in 2024, compared with $36,487 in Canada. 

The report said the United States also had a lower unemployment rate, higher gross domestic product per capita, higher median disposable income, and faster economic growth despite its larger population.

Abdul El-Sayed blasts Trump over Canada

The earlier comments resurfaced after El-Sayed criticized the Trump administration’s trade tensions with Canada during a Monday, August 31, press conference in Detroit.

“Now, over the last couple of weeks, Michiganders have been struck by yet another disastrous Trump policy: the expansion of a trade war with Canada,” El-Sayed said.

He also used a sharper description of the dispute, saying, “if you’re starting a trade war with Canada, it’s because you’re the a*****e.”

El-Sayed also criticized Republican Senate opponent Mike Rogers, arguing that Rogers would support the trade policy while Michigan residents faced higher costs.

“He has no choice but to rubber stamp — to roger — a trade war that is now costing the Michiganders that he says he wants to serve nearly $6,000 a year for the goods and services we did not have to worry about. Now, to what end? There’s a smart use of tariffs, this ain’t it,” El-Sayed said.

Mike Rogers and White House fire back

Rogers responded during an interview Monday on Fox News’ ‘Fox & Friends’, contrasting his approach with El-Sayed’s.

“You can send somebody back who gets up every day and tries to gouge the president’s eyes out,” Rogers said of El-Sayed. “Or you can send somebody back who’s going to walk in and say, ‘Hey, can we work on this part of the trade deal?’” Rogers added, referring to himself.

The White House also criticized El-Sayed. Spokesperson Davis Ingle said he “hates football, wants to massively raise your taxes, advocates for defunding the police, and wants to destroy the Michigan auto industry by banning gasoline powered vehicles.”

“El-Sayed is a complete and total extremist. Of course he thinks Canadians are superior to his fellow Americans,” Ingle continued.