Kennedy Faces Backlash Over Arab Claims

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense criticism on Wednesday after declaring at a Michigan rally that Arabs have never won major science or literature prizes. The Health and Human Services Secretary made the remarks during a campaign stop for Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate candidate. Rogers is currently trailing his Democratic opponent, Abdul El-Sayed, in polling. Kennedy stated that despite there being 500 million Arabs in the world, the group does not produce science or win the Nobel, Fields, or Wolf prizes.

The speech occurred at a Monday night event in Grand Rapids. Kennedy used the comments to attack the Muslim Brotherhood. He argued that the rise of the group created stagnant societies. This development ended what he described as a golden age when Islamic lands were centers for art, literature, science, and engineering. He characterized that previous era as highly tolerant and pluralistic.

The Associated Press published a factcheck on Tuesday that directly contradicted Kennedy’s claims. The report showed that Arabs have won or been short-listed for the specific awards Kennedy mentioned in recent years. The Council on American-Islamic Relations labeled the remarks a textbook display of unvarnished racism and bigotry. Protect Our Care, a US healthcare advocacy group, used the phrase wildly racist tirade to describe the speech.

Hillary Scholten, a Democratic congresswoman representing west Michigan, posted a statement to her Facebook page late Tuesday. She noted that Kennedy declined to endorse El-Sayed earlier this summer. Scholten argued that as Health Secretary, Kennedy is responsible to all Americans rather than using his position to demean communities with false claims. She added that Arab Americans are neighbors, colleagues, and public servants whose contributions are undeniable. She concluded by suggesting Kennedy sit this one out because he lacks a medical degree and a Nobel Peace Prize.

Other Trump administration officials have joined the attack on El-Sayed. President Donald Trump called the Democrat a jihadist at a Sunday rally in Port Huron. He said El-Sayed was on the side of terrorists. Vice President JD Vance escalated the rhetoric at a Tuesday event in Howell. Vance connected El-Sayed’s politics to violent protests in Paris where thousands were arrested. Vance said, I guarantee you, if those rioters were burning down New York, or Detroit, the Hasan Pikers and El-Sayeds would be right there leading them and cheering them on.

Rogers has also questioned El-Sayed’s links to the Muslim Brotherhood. However, Rogers’ own relationship with the group has drawn scrutiny. In 2012, as House Intelligence Committee chair, he said the US should hold talks with the movement after Mohamed Morsi won the Egyptian election. El-Sayed has repeatedly denied such ties. He disavowed the group during a viral town hall event in Michigan last week. A heckler at that event turned out to be a former aide to Senator Josh Hawley.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut condemned the comments after canvassing for El-Sayed in Michigan. He described the situation as a coordinated campaign to delegitimize Muslim Americans. Murphy said the effort targets them not just as citizens but as humans.