Abdul El-Sayed stands by criticism of fireworks, tells Americans to find other ways to 'show you love'
El‑Sayed Defends Fireworks Comments Amid Growing Scrutiny Over Deleted Posts
Michigan, Aug. 20, 2026 – Democratic candidate Abdul El‑Sayed took to the airwaves Monday to respond to criticism about his earlier remarks on Fourth of July fireworks. The conversation unfolded on “The Breakfast Club,” a national radio show hosted by Charlamagne tha God, and has reignited debate over El‑Sayed’s social‑media history as he seeks a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.
El‑Sayed’s comments were prompted by a question from the host about the former mayor’s past advocacy for defunding the police and his outspoken criticism of fireworks displays. In the interview, El‑Sayed emphasized that his concerns were about the environmental and health impacts of the tradition, rather than an outright ban. “If your whole conception of America is that it’s fireworks, I’m so sorry,” he told the audience, “but every time we do a fireworks show it destroys the air quality and people have asthma exacerbations and heart attacks the next day.” He added that he was not opposed to fireworks altogether, only to the idea that they were the sole way to celebrate Independence Day.
The remarks come in the wake of a CNN investigation released earlier this month that uncovered El‑Sayed’s removal of roughly 100 YouTube videos before the launch of his Senate campaign. Among those deleted posts were a series of clips in which he urged Americans to find alternative ways to mark the Fourth of July, citing concerns over air pollution, the safety of children and pets, and the overall environmental cost. One of the videos was titled “Four Reasons Why Fireworks Suck,” and included a segment called “Fireworks Just Aren’t Worth It: Hear Us Out.”
El‑Sayed’s deletion of the videos has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum. Republican nominee Mike Rogers appeared on “Hannity” earlier in the month and called the former mayor’s actions “harassment” of what most Michiganders enjoy. Rogers stated, “This guy spent hours hating on what most Michiganders would enjoy in their pastimes, and he should be held to account for that. These are views that he held, that he was pretty strong about, but he knew that he had to delete them all… If people really knew who he was, they wouldn’t vote for him.”
Both the El‑Sayed and Rogers campaigns were asked for comment by Fox News Digital, but neither responded to inquiries as of mid‑morning Monday.
El‑Sayed’s defense on “The Breakfast Club” also touched on his support for police reform, a stance that has been a key part of his campaign platform. However, the conversation remained focused on the fireworks controversy, with the host pressing the candidate to clarify whether his concerns were driven by environmental science or political positioning.
While the debate over fireworks is not new—many environmental groups have long warned about the pollutants released by pyrotechnic displays—El‑Sayed’s comments have come at a time when voters are increasingly scrutinizing a candidate’s past statements and the authenticity of their public messaging.
El‑Sayed’s campaign has continued to emphasize his record as Detroit’s former mayor and his experience in public service. In contrast, Rogers’ campaign has highlighted the issue of deleted social‑media posts as an example of the former mayor’s willingness to “clean up” controversial positions once they become political liabilities.
The discussion on “The Breakfast Club” is part of a broader pattern of political scrutiny as both campaigns push their messages to voters in the run‑up to the August 8, 2026, primary. Whether voters will weigh El‑Sayed’s environmental concerns against his past statements remains to be seen, but the debate underscores the growing importance of digital footprints in modern electoral politics.