By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Arab communities worldwide are celebrating Abdul El-Sayed's victory in the U.S. Senate race, delighting in his introduction of Arabic terms like "habibi" and "inshallah" into American political discourse. The son of Egyptian immigrants will become the first Muslim American senator, and his win has sparked a rare outpouring of joy across the Middle East and among Arab Americans.
Victory speech mocks Vance
In his victory speech, El-Sayed directly addressed Vice President JD Vance, who had warned during the campaign that El-Sayed would lead rioters in burning down Detroit. "JD, habibi," El-Sayed said, using a term of affection that translates to "my beloved" or "buddy." He noted the "delicious irony" that Vance is constitutionally obligated to swear him in come January. El-Sayed also referenced President Donald Trump's attacks, which included calling him a "jihadist" and deliberately misstating his name, telling Trump he could simply call him "senator" after the inauguration.
Cultural resonance and context
The word "habibi" quickly trended on social media, with users sharing music videos from Egyptian diva Shireen Abd El-Wahab and Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe, as well as memes from Egyptian cinema. Supporters wore shirts reading "Habibi for Abdul," and El-Sayed remarked that his campaign had turned "inshallah" (God willing) into "hamdulillah" (thank God). Egyptian academic Khalil al-Anani praised the senator-elect for bringing joy to a region traumatized by conflict and long burdened by negative stereotypes in Western media and politics.
