Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed responded to a Fox News host’s question about gender transition surgeries for minors by asking if the host was circumcised during a tense Monday night interview.
In the exchange’s most striking moment, Jesse Watters asked if El-Sayed believed it was acceptable “for a parent to slash his kid’s ding-a-ling off.” El-Sayed countered by inquiring about Watters’ circumcision status. “Uh, yeah, but that’s a personal question, doctor,” Watters replied with a laugh, adding that “circumcision’s different than castration.”
El-Sayed said the government should not dictate Americans’ health care procedures but stopped short of directly endorsing or opposing the surgeries.
🚨 Jesse Watters SPARS with Abdul El-Sayed as he DODGES giving answers: “You want to do the interview? I’ll ask the questions! You’re filibustering.” pic.twitter.com/GlhNRUkrUZ
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) August 25, 2026
Throughout the prime-time appearance, Watters repeatedly reminded El-Sayed—through tense smiles and laughter—that he was conducting the interview as the Michigan Democrat navigated hostile questions on topics including transition surgeries, reparations, Islam and immigration.
El-Sayed frequently redirected inquiries to more favorable ground, pivoting from immigration enforcement to high gas and grocery prices, and turning a question about whether he drives an electric car (he said he drives a plug-in hybrid) into a critique of President Trump’s trade war with Canada.
The interview marked a growing effort by the progressive candidate to reach Republican voters and previewed his general-election messaging after a hard-fought primary victory earlier this month. El-Sayed faces former Representative Mike Rogers, a Republican, in a contest viewed as crucial to control of the Senate. He has sought to ease concerns among moderate Democrats that he is too left-wing to win in battleground Michigan.