Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed calls Trump a 'bully, unserious fool'

• Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed calls President Donald Trump a "bully" and an "unserious fool," defending his confrontational approach.
• Despite his criticism, El-Sayed says he is willing to work with Trump, inviting him to arrange a meeting.

Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has defended his sharp criticism of US President Donald Trump, arguing that Democrats must abandon traditional political decorum to effectively confront the president.

Speaking on NPR's Morning Edition with host Leila Fadel, El-Sayed stood by recent podcast remarks in which he described Trump as "the dumbest effing guy who ever was president" and urged Democrats to treat him as an "unserious fool."

‘Bullies only respond when stood up to’

El-Sayed characterized Trump as a "bully" and a "narcissist," arguing that refusing to challenge such behavior only reinforces the perception that the president cannot be opposed.

"I am not going to play around and pretend that somehow this man is intelligent," El-Sayed said, rejecting claims that Trump has a "brilliant" political strategy.

He argued that Trump's main political strength lies in his ability to command media attention, but said the president's attacks against him ultimately helped raise his profile during his Senate campaign.

El-Sayed pointed to his seven-point election victory as evidence that Trump's opposition had failed to prevent his electoral success.

Asked whether his harsh language could undermine opportunities for bipartisan cooperation, El-Sayed dismissed the concern, suggesting that Trump is motivated by a desire to win over people who criticize him.

Despite his criticism, the senator-elect said he was prepared to work with the president if the administration focused on addressing the needs of the American public.

He concluded by extending a direct invitation to Trump during the interview: "Donald, call my office. We can have a meeting."