Dem giving rebuttal to Trump joint address employs staffer who promoted Farrakhan
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, who is being hailed as a “moderate” Democrat, has come under fire for employing a staffer who publicly supported Minister Louis Farrakhan. This staffer, Dr. Terra DeFoe, faced backlash last year for her social media post about her involvement with the Nation of Islam and Farrakhan.
In 2017, DeFoe posted a photo on Facebook of herself standing next to Farrakhan at the Nation of Islam’s “Saviours’ Day Convention,” where she expressed her support for the controversial religious leader. Farrakhan has a history of making derogatory comments about Jews, comparing them to termites and praising Adolf Hitler as a “great man.” His antisemitic rhetoric has sparked outrage and condemnation from many groups.
Despite the backlash over DeFoe’s ties to Farrakhan, Senator Slotkin retained her as a staffer during her successful Senate campaign. After the campaign, DeFoe was promoted to the position of regional director in January 2025. Federal Election Commission records show that DeFoe received significant payments from the Slotkin campaign before her promotion.
Jewish activists and political figures have called on Slotkin to fire DeFoe in light of her support for Farrakhan. Liora Rez, executive director of StopAntisemitism, criticized Slotkin for refusing to take action against a staffer who openly praised an antisemitic figure like Farrakhan. Tudor Dixon, a Republican candidate for governor of Michigan, accused Slotkin of being a “far-left progressive” who surrounds herself with activists out of touch with average Americans.
Despite repeated attempts to reach out to Slotkin’s office and DeFoe for comment, there has been no response. The controversy surrounding DeFoe’s support for Farrakhan raises questions about Slotkin’s commitment to combating antisemitism and upholding American values.
In conclusion, the ongoing controversy surrounding Senator Elissa Slotkin’s employment of a staffer with ties to Minister Louis Farrakhan highlights the challenges of navigating political affiliations and addressing extremist rhetoric within political circles.
