Rep. Summer Lee Says 'Upper Class' Is the 'Enemy' at Abdul El-Sayed Rally in Michigan

U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, a progressive Democrat from Pennsylvania, told a Michigan campaign crowd on Tuesday that the country’s "upper class" should be seen as the real "enemy," comments that were captured on video and circulated online by the Washington Free Beacon. Lee made the remarks while campaigning for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at an event held at the University of Michigan, where Rep. Rashida Tlaib, another member of the progressive "Squad," was also in attendance.

In the video posted by the Washington Free Beacon, Lee said: "I see other people who are fighting like hell to make you feel like your enemy is sitting next to you. That your enemy is somebody who worships differently than you are, or looks differently than you are, comes from a different socioeconomic background than you, unless they are the upper class." She continued, "They only have the politics of fear and division and destruction and disruption. They need us to keep our focus away from the people who have participated in the biggest sex trafficking ring in our country," a remark that appeared to reference the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. "I need you to instead lead and learn and live in your power."

A tweet from journalist Jessica Costescu highlighted the remarks, posting: "NOW: At Abdul El-Sayed’s University of Michigan rally, Congresswoman Summer Lee told the crowd that the 'upper class' is the real 'enemy.' @FreeBeacon pic.twitter.com/Anw1GjZS7S." The footage quickly drew attention online and was subsequently featured by outlets across the political spectrum.

Lee’s comments at the El-Sayed event come amid intensified discussion about class-based messaging within the Democratic Party. The Gateway Pundit story framed her remarks as part of a broader trend among left-leaning politicians, citing national progressive figures such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren as influences and arguing that this approach is becoming more pronounced as candidates on the left win local and state elections. The article also named rising progressive officeholders such as Zohran Mamdani as examples of that trend.

Abdul El-Sayed, a former Detroit health official and one-time gubernatorial candidate, is running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan with endorsements from several prominent progressives. The campaign has attracted attention from both allies and critics who view him as representative of the party’s left flank. The presence of Squad members at his rally signals continued coordination and visibility among high-profile progressives on the campaign trail.

Critics of Lee’s remarks have argued that framing the upper class as an "enemy" risks exacerbating divisions and oversimplifying political debate, while supporters say the rhetoric is intended to highlight economic inequality and direct political attention toward powerful interests. Analysts of contemporary Democratic politics note that messaging focused on wealth and power has been a recurring theme for national progressives in recent years, though how voters respond to explicitly class-based language varies by region and electoral context.

The episode adds to a series of public statements and events in which prominent progressives have used pointed language to describe political opponents or structural economic forces. As the Michigan Senate race unfolds, both El-Sayed’s campaign and his critics will likely face scrutiny over how class and economic arguments are framed and whether such rhetoric resonates with Michigan voters ahead of the general election.