Screencap of Twitter/X video.

A black commentator from Detroit named Adolph Mongo recently appeared on NewsNation and was asked if Obama campaigning with far left Democrat Abdul El-Sayed would make any difference in the black community, where support for El-Sayed is very low.

His response was pretty brutal. He said that he loves Obama but then talked about how you can’t put lipstick on a pig.

This is not what people at the El-Sayed campaign want to hear.

From NewsNation:

Former President Barack Obama’s upcoming campaign appearance with Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed may not be enough to win over skeptical Black voters in Detroit, according to a prominent political voice in the city.

Adolph Mongo, a longtime Detroit political commentator, told NewsNation’s Leland Vittert on “On Balance” that Obama’s support would not change his concerns about El-Sayed. Asked directly whether Obama campaigning for El-Sayed would make a difference with Black voters, Mongo responded: “No, no, it won’t. We love Obama. I love Obama.”

Obama is scheduled to appear with El-Sayed at an Oct. 24 rally in Detroit, which coincides with the first day of Michigan’s required early in-person voting period.

The former president’s appearance comes as Democrats work to consolidate support behind El-Sayed after a fiercely contested primary against Rep. Haley Stevens. NewsNation reported that Stevens outperformed El-Sayed in Wayne County, winning about 51% of the primary vote there compared with El-Sayed’s 45%.

El-Sayed ultimately defeated Stevens by less than 1 percentage point…

Watch the video:

Detroit commentator says Obama campaigning for Abdul El-Sayed won’t move Black voters:

"We love Obama. I love Obama. But listen, a pig by any other name is still a pig. You can put lipstick on a pig, as they say. It’s a pig." pic.twitter.com/bnDWJG7Nl1

— Bobby LaValley (@Bobby_LaVallley) October 8, 2026

There is another aspect to this story.

Abdul El-Sayed has actually been very critical of Obama’s presidency over the years.

Here he is in 2020 saying that the country is not better off after the eight years of Obama’s presidency.

2020. Abdul El-Sayed argues that the country was worse off after Obama's presidency.

Former Democrat Senator Heidi Heitkamp strongly disagreed.

Obama is about to start campaigning with El-Sayed. It would be a shame if this video got passed around. 😜 pic.twitter.com/4NfoFPA9Gy

— MAZE (@mazemoore) October 6, 2026

That could make things a little awkward.