‘He can read the tea leaves’: El-Sayed says he’s ready to work with Trump

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democrat who won a Michigan Senate seat, says he is willing to work with President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, and he wants his party to concentrate on governing rather than payback. Speaking Thursday on MS NOW's "Morning Joe" after Democrats' strong midterm showing, he said politics should never be about retribution and should instead center on the rule of law and results for Americans.

El-Sayed pointed to Tuesday's Democratic wins as proof that Trump can be confronted, saying that when people push back, the president reads the political signals. His remarks followed Trump telling The New York Times that he was open to cooperating with Democrats, who will hold both chambers of Congress starting in January. El-Sayed said he would partner with anyone on removing money from politics, helping household finances and Medicare for all, and he named healthcare access, ending Medicare cuts, ending the war and halting tariffs on Canada as other priorities. He acknowledged Trump still wields substantial power.

He said he would even meet with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who had mocked him during the campaign, provided Cruz acts in good faith.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →