JACKSON THOMPSON: Abdul El-Sayed suggests males in girls' sports is manufactured issue

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed said he was "not running to govern sports" when asked about transgender athletes during a "60 Minutes" interview, suggesting that the issue is manufactured.

"And instead, we're out here talking about who gets to play what sport, which, you know, should be the question of the people who govern sports. I'm not running to govern sports, right?" El-Sayed told correspondent Ross Douthat during the interview.

The discussion came as Douthat asked a broader question about parental control over education and tensions between some Muslim voters and cultural liberalism. His examples included what schools teach and transgender students participation on sports teams.

"Like these are places where rights are in conflict," Douthat said before asking how those disagreements should be resolved.

"I don't know that that's actually true," El-Sayed responded. "I think we manufacture these social issues because here's the thing about it, Ross. You have an iPhone in your pocket probably or is it an iPhone or a Samsung?"

El-Sayed went on to argue that smartphones and the internet make it unrealistic for parents to prevent children from encountering ideas they find objectionable. He said parents should explain their beliefs and help children navigate what they encounter.

"I think it's really important for us to recognize that the free flow of information is actually a beautiful thing," he said.

He then returned to sports while accusing people who emphasize cultural disputes of diverting attention from economic problems.

"A lot of the cultural war issues that get fought right now are about trying to distract us from the fact that we can't afford our gas, can't afford our groceries, can't see a doctor, are worried about whether or not our kids are going to have a good life," he said.

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El-Sayed did not specify in the exchange which eligibility rules he believes sports organizations should adopt, or whether he would support federal legislation restricting transgender athletes participation in girls and womens sports.

CBS released extended candidate interviews alongside its Sunday broadcast. El-Sayed faces Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in Tuesdays election for the Michigan Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Gary Peters.

Rogers posted a clip of El-Sayed's answer on the topic on X, which prompted widespread viral criticism against the Democrat.

The candidates have previously taken sharply different positions on transgender participation in female sports.

During his 2024 Senate campaign, Rogers signed Independent Womens Voices Stand With Women Commitment, promising to support legislation preserving female opportunities and private spaces.

"Biological men should not be competing with our daughters, period," Rogers said at the time.

Rogers also made the issue part of an Aug. 28 campaign advertisement this year, released with the National Republican Senatorial Committee as part of what his campaign described as a coordinated seven-figure advertising buy.

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