Mehdi Hasan grills El-Sayed on physician claim without medical license
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Left-wing host Mehdi Hasan pressed Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Wednesday over why he called himself a “physician” despite not having a valid state medical license as the Democrat competes in a closely watched primary.
“You got attacked by your rivals for calling yourself a physician, not just a doctor, even though you don’t have a valid state medical license in New York or Michigan, which apparently is what you need legally to call yourself a physician,” Hasan said during a Zeteo interview. “Do you wish you’d just stuck to calling yourself a doctor, which you are, to avoid all of this controversy and attacks on your physician status?”
“You know, at the end of the day, it’s not about whether or not I’m a physician or a doctor,” El-Sayed said. “It’s not about my education. It’s about whether or not your kid gets a good education.”
“That’s a good line, but people would say it’s also about did you tell the truth?” Hasan said.
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Left-wing host Mehdi Hasan pressed Abdul El-Sayed over his use of the word “physician” during a Zeteo interview. (Jose Juarez/AP Photo)
Hasan raised the question after noting that El-Sayed’s rivals had attacked him for calling himself a “physician” rather than a doctor.
After El-Sayed initially tried to steer the exchange toward healthcare access and education, he defended his public health record, saying he had helped more people through government service than many doctors do in clinical practice.
“Well, I would say that I was the health director for the city of Detroit, and I’ve done more to provide more people healthcare or eliminate their medical debt than most doctors have done in their practice career,” El-Sayed said. “So, I’m proud of the work that I did.”
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Hasan questioned El-Sayed about whether he held valid medical licenses in New York or Michigan while campaigning for Senate. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Crooked Media)
El-Sayed said he changed course with his medical training after graduating from Columbia University.
“I took my medical education in a different direction,” El-Sayed said. “And I did graduate from a school that’s literally called Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. So, you know, you can go have that argument with Columbia University if you’d like.”
El-Sayed has repeatedly described himself as a “physician” on the campaign trail and in public biographies despite records showing he never held a medical license in Michigan or New York.
El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital for comment.
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Former Wayne County Health Department Director Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan are facing off in the Aug. 4, 2026, Democratic Senate primary in the Great Lakes battleground state. (Evan Cobb for The Washington Post via Getty Images; Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Hasan also pressed El-Sayed on his personal finance disclosure, noting that Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., had attacked him and Republican Mike Rogers over their finances.
“You sought an extension through Aug. 13, I believe, which is after the primary,” Hasan said. “Was this to avoid transparency with your voters? Why not release them before the election?”
El-Sayed said the delay was related to family finances and overseas property.
“No, just taxes get complicated,” El-Sayed said. “My wife and her family own property abroad, and, so, getting all those tax forms is a thing.”
Bridge Michigan reported that El-Sayed filed an extension to delay his 2026 personal financial disclosure until after the Aug. 4 primary and that the report is now due Aug. 13. Bridge also reported that Stevens had requested 90-day extensions for her personal financial disclosures each year from 2019 to 2025, though she did not seek one this year.
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Stevens’ campaign told Fox News Digital El-Sayed pledged on camera after a WOOD-TV debate to release his personal financial disclosures before the Aug. 4 primary after Haley Stevens pressed him over his decision to file an extension.
“Now, the clock is ticking. Abdul needs to make good on his promise to Michiganders and release his PFD immediately. What is he hiding?” Haley Stevens for Senate communications director Arik Wolk said.
