Newly-elected Senator Abdul El-Sayed engaged in a heated confrontation with Sky News U.S. correspondent James Matthews on the eve of his midterm victory. The footage of the exchange went viral on X, garnering more than 8.8 million views.
During the interaction, El-Sayed questioned Matthews on whether he was registered to vote in Michigan. When Matthews replied that he was not, El-Sayed asked, “So why would I care to have a conversation with you? Just explain to me why would I care to have a conversation with you?”
When Matthews identified himself as a journalist, El-Sayed stated, “You’re a journalist in the U.K. You know how many votes I want to get in the U.K.? Zero. I am never running for office in the U.K. So I absolutely do not care what you think or the questions you ask.”
Matthews protested that U.S. elections matter “to the world,” leading El-Sayed to ask what country Matthews was in. Although Matthews explained he is based in the U.S. with international viewers, El-Sayed insisted, “Sky News is not viewed in the United States of America. It’s only viewed in the U.K.” When Matthews disagreed, El-Sayed responded, “Like five people.”
The two men spoke over one another while El-Sayed placed his hands on Matthews' shoulders twice and clapped at one point to emphasize his remarks. El-Sayed concluded the exchange by saying, “I’ve answered all the questions. I’ve answered all the questions that I care to answers for viewers in the United Kingdom. So I’m asking you to please stop chasing me around, please.” Matthews denied chasing him, stating, “Abdul, I’m not chasing you. I’m asking you questions.”
El-Sayed won the Michigan Senate race on Tuesday evening, defeating Republican Mike Rogers. Another video surfaced online, appearing to be taken shortly before the exchange, showing Matthews approaching El-Sayed as he stepped out of a car and headed into a building. In that footage, Matthews asked El-Sayed what he had to say about Donald Trump thinking he was a “gift for the Republican Party.” After initially declining to answer, El-Sayed responded, “I’m a gift to the state of Michigan, God willing, and I hope to win the election.” When Matthews asked about Trump allegedly calling him “full of shit,” El-Sayed replied, “At least I don’t let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.”
Sky News colleague Alex Crawford praised Matthews’ tenacity on X, stating, “Bravo to our colleague @jamesmatthewsky for always asking the pertinent question and putting into context just why what happens in Michigan – and America – doesn’t stay in Michigan. The election most certainly matters elsewhere – and non-voters have a significance of their own.”
Piers Morgan also commented on the clip, calling El-Sayed’s behavior “Pathetic, and very patronising” and stating El-Sayed should show more respect to the U.K. and one of its best journalists. Representatives for Sky News declined to comment on El-Sayed’s claims regarding Matthews “chasing” him or the claim that Sky News has only five viewers in the U.S.
