Controversy Over Michigan Candidate’s Medical Claims

Fox News contributor Joe Concha sharply criticizes Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed for allegedly misrepresenting his medical credentials. Concha emphasizes the demanding journey and sacrifices real doctors make. He contrasts this with El-Sayed’s claims, arguing that without a medical license, El-Sayed has not saved lives. Concha calls these claims deceitful and a disservice to the medical field, suggesting that voters should be wary of such misrepresentations.

Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Democratic Senate candidate, previously monetized his medical persona by promoting health products. This occurred even as he claimed to reject advertisements with unsubstantiated health claims, criticizing others for engaging in the same practices. Before running for Senate, El-Sayed hosted a podcast that generated a significant income partially through advertising reads. He endorsed companies selling various health-related products, citing his experience in the medical field. These endorsements included supplements and a metabolism-tracking device, the latter scrutinized by health experts.

In a now-deleted 2022 social media post, El-Sayed stated, “I broadly reject any advertisements that are for products making claims about health.” Yet, he used his medical credentials to sell these products, conflicting with his public persona. El-Sayed had also criticized Mehmet Oz during Oz’s 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign for being a part of what he called the “medical industrial complex.” This complex, he argued, pushes products not based on science.

Despite reassurances he wouldn’t promote health products, El-Sayed did so. For example, in a 2025 ad read, he talked about Thrive Market, mentioning products like “Moon Juice Brain Dust” and “Royal Jelly Brain Fuel.” These supplements claim cognitive benefits, though their effectiveness is disputed by health experts. Descriptions on these products draw from various traditional medicine practices, including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Still, scientific evidence supporting their claims remains limited.

Public records show that while El-Sayed holds a medical degree and a doctorate in public health, he never obtained a medical license or completed a residency. This has led to scrutiny, particularly from first reports like The New York Post regarding his advertisements.

El-Sayed also promoted a medical device developed by an Israeli startup. In his ad reads, he described “Lumen,” a device that claims to measure metabolism by analyzing breath. However, experts have questioned its scientific validity. Nicholas Tiller, a senior researcher at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, expressed skepticism to Outside Magazine in 2022, dismissing the product’s practical use for weight loss, labeling it as “marketing over science.”

Additionally, El-Sayed advertised for a company selling peptides believed to improve skin health. Fox News Digital reached out to El-Sayed’s campaign for comment but received no response.