Jesse Watters Offers Surprising Praise for Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed

Fox News host Jesse Watters offered some unexpected praise Tuesday for Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, saying he personally likes the candidate despite strongly opposing his political positions.

“I actually like Abdul,” Watters said on “Jesse Watters Primetime.” “I probably shouldn’t like him, but I do.”

The remarks followed a contentious 25-minute interview between Watters and El-Sayed on Monday night. During the exchange, Watters pressed the Democrat about abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Medicare for All, the Green New Deal and proposals to tax the ultra-wealthy.

The discussion also turned to gender-affirming surgery for minors. Watters’ questioning on the subject prompted El-Sayed to ask the host, “Are you circumcised?”

On Tuesday, Watters aired clips of media reaction to the heated interview, including comments from Mika Brzezinski. She praised both men for participating in what she described as a constructive, if occasionally difficult to watch, political discussion.

Brzezinski said more Democrats should appear on Fox News and argued that television networks should feature a wider range of political perspectives. She commended El-Sayed for accepting the interview and Watters for inviting him.

Watters made clear that his personal approval of El-Sayed did not extend to the candidate’s politics.

“I think he’d be a terrible senator and he’s a little bit of a lunatic,” Watters said. “But at least he’s not your typical stiff.”
During Monday’s interview, Watters told El-Sayed that he appeared “a little naive” and accused the Democratic nominee of promoting ideas that were “straight-up wacky.”