President Trump is increasingly targeting Muslim politicians and communities to energize his base before election day. His rhetoric, exemplified by attacks on Michigan Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, suggests El-Sayed poses a security threat and falsely accuses him of wanting to impose Sharia law. El-Sayed has denied these baseless claims, and no evidence supports them. Political consultants believe such tactics may mobilize Trump's core supporters but could alienate others. A Michigan State University poll indicates a significant portion of likely voters are less likely to support a Muslim candidate, though a majority stated it wouldn't make a difference. Critics argue this strategy relies on bigotry and racism due to a lack of substantive policy messages. They contend these attacks aim to instill fear and spread lies, potentially backfiring. Conversely, the White House asserts Trump is calling out extremists who promote division and violence. This anti-Muslim rhetoric is not isolated to Trump, with other Republican lawmakers also making similar comments. The impact on moderate and independent voters, or whether these attacks will galvanize Muslim Americans, remains to be seen.