Far left Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed refused to condemn the IRGC after a Michigan student directly challenged him during an appearance at the University of Michigan.

The exchange occurred in September and has since resurfaced. It gained renewed attention as El-Sayed’s Democratic primary opponent, Haley Stevens, endorsed Republican Mike Rogers.

The student identified himself as Persian and described the suffering his family had experienced under the Iranian government and the IRGC. He pressed El-Sayed about his previous silence and demanded a clear position against the organization.

“My cousin was hunted in the streets of Iran by the IRGC because her hijab wasn't on right. My uncle was sentenced to die, received 50 lashings by Ali Khamenei's government, and the terror that we have experienced is insurmountable, and you can imagine our surprise as Persians, our sadness when we heard you, Abdul, a leaked audio tape of you saying that you didn't want to comment on Supreme Leader Khamenei's death, and that people in Dearborn were sad when he died.”

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The student then asked whether El-Sayed regretted that silence and whether he would renounce people who held vigils supporting Khamenei. He also asked whether El-Sayed stood unequivocally against the IRGC and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“And I just have a simple question, Abdul. That silence was a gaping hole in our community, and I want to ask if you regret that silence. I want to ask if you renounce the people that held vigils that supported this terrorist for all the stuff that he's done. I wanted to ask if you stand unequivocally against the IRGC, against the Islamic Republic of Iran that has killed 50,000 protesters. Abdul, I haven't heard anything from you about the protesters, Abdul. Please.”

El-Sayed did not provide the requested condemnation. Instead, he shifted the discussion toward American intervention abroad and the possibility of removing the leadership of a foreign government.

“I appreciate your question and thank you. What I will tell you is this: for too long and too often, when we think about our role in the world, we have turned ourselves into the world's policemen, and I think what we all want, what we all need, is more democracy, more freedom in the world, but also an understanding of what we actually can and should do with respect to that.”

El-Sayed continued by arguing that opposing another country’s government or supporting democratic movements does not necessarily justify American action against that government’s leadership.

“And here's my point: One can disagree with the governance of a foreign country. One can stand in solidarity with freedom and democracy movements. But my worry is one when one decides that we are going to go in and take out the leadership of a foreign government,” he responded.

He later said he would “always stand for and with democratic movements,” but opposed going to war to topple Iran’s government. He said deciding Iran’s leadership was the responsibility of the Iranian people.

The student was not satisfied with that answer and pointed out that El-Sayed still had not delivered the condemnation he had requested. “You still haven't said it though, we're dying.”

El-Sayed again responded by discussing war rather than directly addressing the IRGC. “I will always stand with movements for freedom and democracy. But again, I want to be careful because how many times were you taken down a path to war that we could not get ourselves out of?” he responded.

El-Sayed then characterized the student’s question as asking whether the United States should “be involved in regime change.” The student’s original question, however, had focused on whether El-Sayed would condemn the IRGC and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

A young Iranian-American Michigander describes how his family has been hunted by the IRGC, cites tens of thousands of protesters reportedly killed by the regime, and asks Abdul one simple question: Will you condemn the IRGC?

Abdul refuses. https://t.co/zJprDlQuXd — Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) November 2, 2026

El-Sayed had previously faced criticism after leaked audio captured him saying he would not comment on Ali Khamenei’s death. Khamenei was assassinated by Israeli airstrikes during Operation Epic Fury, described as a campaign from the United States and Iran.

The candidate’s family has several ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which El-Sayed has also shown reservations about condemning. That record has added to scrutiny surrounding his refusal to give the student a straight answer about the IRGC.

Stevens announced Sunday that she was supporting Rogers over El-Sayed. “I've worked really hard for Democrats. I'm not turning my back on Democrats. It is one vote. When you see repeated hate, it's not acceptable. I still love the party,” she said.

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