Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has accused CNN of subjecting him to overly aggressive questioning in recent interviews, at one point likening it to a "non-consensual colonoscopy". The remarks follow footage of him being pressed by CNN hosts, including Jake Tapper, on past controversial comments about the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and on his previous support for defunding the police, with critics saying he sidestepped both topics.

In the resurfaced clips, El-Sayed avoided directly addressing calls to "defund" police, instead calling for greater investment in libraries, public services and social services, drawing criticism from Fox News figures such as Harris Faulkner and Lara Trump over his perceived evasiveness. El-Sayed also claimed CNN's coverage of him focuses disproportionately on Iran-related remarks rather than his broader campaign platform.