Geraldo Rivera caused a bit of a ruckus on CNN Thursday night when he suggested the best way for Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to campaign is with “indisputably white people.”

If El-Sayed is elected, he would become the country’s first Muslim senator.

Although he currently leads Republican opponent Mike Rogers 48.1% to 45.5% according to Real Clear Politics, the election is still weeks away, and the GOP is focused on portraying him as dangerously radical.

That seemed to be Rivera’s concern when El-Sayed was discussed on “Newsnight” Thursday evening, and he suggested ideas to ease the concerns of Michiganders on the fence.

“Well, I’m a pragmatic idealist,” the veteran newsman said before claiming the reality in Michigan is that “people are thinking in the back of their minds that this is a radical Muslim person, and it’s scaring the hell out of Jewish people and others in Michigan.”

Then he continued with the suggestion that set the panel off.

“Why not embrace the mainstream of the Democratic Party and surround yourself with all of these American, indisputably white people that ....” Rivera started to say before a storm of crosstalk emerged from his aghast panelmates.

Host Abby Phillip calmed everyone down, then asked Rivera to clarify his thoughts, and he invoked progressive New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

“AOC is my favorite politician in America,” he said. “I’m very proud of her. I’m proud of everything that she’s accomplished. And do you think that the people in northern Michigan are going to look at AOC and say, ’Oh, now I’m more likely to take the chance with El-Sayed than I would be?”

“So you’re suggesting [El-Sayed] should campaign more with white people than AOC?” Phillip asked.

“If you want to be blunt as that,” Rivera replied, before adding, “white people, Black people, American people ....”

“AOC is American!” interjected co-panelist and Democratic strategist Ashley Allison, off camera, right before Rivera said, “I’m a proud Puerto Rican American.”

Phillip responded by saying, “I think I should call a time out,” while co-panelist Charles Blow told Rivera, “I don’t care if you’re Puerto Rican, it’s so offensive. It’s so offensive.”

Blow then explained that when he went to an El-Sayed rally, the vast majority of people in attendance were white.

“That man did not engage in any identity politics, and he was surrounded by white people,” Blow said, before turning his attention back to Rivera. “But why is that still not enough for you?”

The complete segment is above, and, unsurprisingly, people on social media took umbrage at Rivera’s use of the term “indisputably white people.”

Both horrifying and illuminating. https://t.co/JqVHipHZDW

Ah the racism! https://t.co/JpKf0tA7an

Hoo boy @GeraldoRivera is insisting that @aoc isn't American because she's of Hispanic descent?Rivera has never been stable but this is just nuts https://t.co/1VhfYCqdBl

CNN is worse than Fox News. The things they allow on their network daily against Muslims is disgusting . Now Abdul has to campaign with white people to prove he is he is American. Sick https://t.co/z4kpIW7cMN

Just so we understand the level of this stupidity. Geraldo Rivera was born Gerald Michael Rivera to a Puerto Rican father and Jewish mother.When he started in TV, he used the name “Jerry Rivers” to come off as fully white, but when he saw he wasn’t standing out, he changed his… https://t.co/OSIHe1FDKw

He said put that man by yt ppl to win. This is the issue with this country. Minorities believing yt ppl are the gatekeepers. And that's why they walk around nose up. https://t.co/yuI5KyRCt3

Isn't Geraldo Latino, like AOC?What am I missing here? https://t.co/QbGkHgEjkQ

I live in one of those towns in Upper Michigan Abdul and AOC campaigned at. AOC was the bigger draw for the majority of people who went. We love her. So fuck off Geraldo. Also this is @KVGforMi2026 who is running for State Senate for the U.P. pic.twitter.com/5FZvvH6qMj

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