US Vice President JD Vance publicly rebuked Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a Detroit-area rally, telling him to stop making remarks about his wife, Usha Vance, and to focus instead on policy. The exchange follows a social media post from El-Sayed that appeared to reference Usha Vance's heritage, which critics said was a swipe at her Indian background; El-Sayed said he was instead highlighting what he saw as Vance's implication that some Americans are more "American" than others. The row has added a personal, combative edge to what is otherwise a closely watched Senate race in a key swing state.

At the rally, organised by the pro-Trump super PAC MAGA Inc., Vance said El-Sayed should discuss auto workers' jobs and wages rather than "another guy's wife," warning him to "keep my wife's name the hell out of your mouth because she's way out of your league." Vance also accused El-Sayed of undermining working-class interests, citing a 2018 statement in which El-Sayed backed driver's licences for undocumented immigrants, though he did not specifically call for commercial licences for lorry drivers. The two candidates do, however, share some common ground on using tariffs to support American industry. El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.