Marjorie Taylor Greene warns Trump’s Iran strikes could hand Michigan Senate seat to Abdul El-Sayed

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene on Wednesday, October 21, that renewed US military strikes on Iran before the November midterm elections could cost Republicans Michigan's open Senate seat, potentially benefiting Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. 

Greene, a former ally of President Donald Trump who has become a critic of his foreign policy, described the conflict as a “stupid senseless war” and said Americans opposed it. She clarified that her remarks were not an endorsement of El-Sayed, who is competing against Republican former Rep Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race.

Greene warns Trump’s Iran strikes could cost Republicans Michigan Senate seat

Greene wrote in a post on X that another attack on Iran before the midterms could help El-Sayed win Michigan's Senate seat. She criticised the conflict and Republican support for neoconservative foreign policy positions.

“If Trump is dumb enough to attack Iran again before the midterms, Abdul El Sayed will win the senate seat in Michigan,.” Greene wrote. The former congresswoman described the conflict as a “stupid senseless war” which “America hates.”

Greene also criticised neoconservative influence within the Republican Party, writing that “we also hate neocons.” She added that “this is not an endorsement, I’m not a Democrat, but I’m also not a neocon Republican.”

Greene resigned from Congress at the end of last year following a public falling-out with Trump over efforts to release Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. Since leaving Congress, she has continued to criticise the president's foreign policy and economic positions, including the military campaign against Iran.

The United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on February 28, beginning a conflict that has continued for nearly eight months. The war has disrupted commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil-trading route, putting pressure on energy supplies and contributing to concerns about rising costs.

According to a report by The New York Times, citing US officials familiar with the plans, American and Israeli forces were preparing for renewed strikes after the midterm elections. The report came amid growing political debate over the duration and economic consequences of the conflict.

Iran war becomes an issue in Michigan Senate race

The conflict has emerged as an issue in competitive Senate races, with Democrats criticising Republican opponents for opposing war powers resolutions intended to curb or end US military operations against Iran. Lawmakers have passed several such resolutions, including three in the House and one in the Senate, as voters contend with concerns about inflation and energy costs.

El-Sayed, who is seeking the Democratic nomination in Michigan's open Senate race, reiterated his opposition to using US taxpayer money to support the conflict during an interview with NewsNation's Leland Vittert earlier this month.

“I have been more than extremely clear about this: I don’t want our tax dollars being used to subsidize war abroad,” El-Sayed said. “I don’t want our tax dollars being used to fund, unconditionally, foreign militaries.”

Rogers, the Republican competing against El-Sayed, has also called for the conflict to end. In a campaign advertisement released last month, he said, “The war with Iran needs to end and end quickly.”

“When it does, energy costs will plummet. But Michigan families can’t afford to wait for that to happen. We need to do something now.”