Abdul El-Sayed’s Heated Exchange With Sky News Reporter Goes Viral & Is Denounced As “Pathetic”

Abdul El-Sayed may have clinched a historic victory in Michigan, but his tense exchange with a Sky News reporter on election night is not winning him supporters in the UK.

El-Sayed, who will become America’s first Muslim Senator after beating Mike Rogers, was questioned by Sky News’ U.S. correspondent James Matthews, but was not willing to engage.

“Are you registered to vote in the state of Michigan?” El-Sayed asked the journalist. Matthews said he was not registered. “So why would I care to have a conversation with you?”

Matthews pointed out that he was reporting on an election that has consequences around the world. “You’re a journalist in the UK. You know how many votes I want to get in the UK? Zero. I am never running for office in the UK … so I actually do not care what you think or the questions you ask.”

El-Sayed punctuated his remarks by clapping his hands and putting both of his hands on Matthews’ shoulders. “I’m going to ask you to stop chasing me around, please.” Matthews replied: “I’m not chasing you around; I’m asking you questions.”

Michigan's Democratic candidate for Senate Abdul El-Sayed confronted @jamesmatthewsky, telling him he wouldn't answer his questions as he wants "zero" votes in the UK.

Watch the heated exchange between the two.

Watch our live coverage of the US midterms➡️… pic.twitter.com/qWAodH1qrf

— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 3, 2026

The Sky News clip has more than 6.5 million views on X/Twitter, while El-Sayed’s behavior was denounced by British journalists.

Piers Morgan wrote: “Pathetic, and very patronising, by @AbdulElSayed. He should show more respect to the UK and one of our best journalists.”

Sky News’ special correspondent Alex Crawford said: “Bravo to our colleague @jamesmatthewsky for always asking the pertinent question and putting into context just why what happens in Michigan – and America – doesn’t stay in Michigan. The election most certainly matters elsewhere – and non-voters have a significance of their own.”

Tim Shipman, political editor of The Spectator, evoked Donald Trump’s treatment of journalists. “Utterly contemptible. Just like the man he despises,” Shipman wrote on X.