A heated exchange between Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed and Sky News journalist James Matthews has now gone viral. At one point during the exchange, El-Sayed was seen putting his hands on Matthews’ shoulders and clapping them – a gesture deemed inappropriate by many media figures from the U.K.For instance, British journalist, newspaper columnist, and political activist Mark Wallace reposted Sky News’ clip of the exchange on X and wrote in his caption:“Why is @AbdulElSayed touching @jamesmatthewsky? Take your hands off him; it’s weird!”British broadcaster, writer, and TV personality Piers Morgan also wrote in the comment section of the clip:“Pathetic and very patronizing by @AbdulElSayed. He should show more respect to the UK and one of our best journalists.”James Matthews’ Sky News colleague Alex Crawford also shared her opinion on X. She wrote:“Bravo to our colleague @jamesmatthewsky for always asking the pertinent question and putting into context just why what happens in Michigan – and America – doesn’t stay in Michigan. The election most certainly matters elsewhere – and non-voters have a significance of their own.”Exploring the entire exchange between Abdul El-Sayed and James MatthewsOn Election Day, hours before his victory against Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, Abdul El-Sayed, 42, shared a tense exchange with James Matthews. The clip posted by Sky News began with El-Sayed approaching Matthews and asking:“Are you registered to vote in Michigan? Are you registered to vote?”When Matthews replied that he was not, Abdul further asked:“So why would I care to have a conversation with you? Just explain to me why I would care to have a conversation with you?”It remains unclear what prompted the Senator-elect to shut down the Sky News reporter. When James Matthews replied that he was a “journalist,” Abdul El-Sayed responded:“You’re a journalist in the U.K. You know how many votes I want to get in the U.K.? Zero. I am never running for office in the U.K. So, I absolutely do not care what you think or the questions you ask.”When Matthews claimed that the U.S. election matters to the “world,” El-Sayed asked him what country they were in. When the journalist explained he was based in the United States but worked for Sky News and his viewers were “international,” the politician replied:“Sky News is not viewed in the United States of America. It’s only viewed in the U.K.”When James disagreed, Abdul added, “Like, five people.” He concluded the exchange by saying:“I’ve answered all the questions. I’ve answered all the questions that I care to answer for viewers in the United Kingdom. So, I’m asking you to please stop chasing me around, please.”Matthews denied the allegation and said:“Abdul, I’m not chasing you. I’m asking you questions.”Another viral video from two months ago showed James Matthews approaching Abdul El-Sayed as the latter stepped out of his car and was on his way to a campaign event. Back then, Matthews introduced himself and asked the former Detroit Health Department executive director:“Donald Trump seems to think you’re a gift for the Republican Party; what do you say to that?”El-Sayed initially refused to answer, before turning to the camera and saying:“I’m a gift to the state of Michigan, God willing, and I hope to win the election.”When the Sky News journalist further asked:“And he says, if you’ll pardon the language, ‘You’re full of s**t.’ What do you say to that?”The epidemiologist replied:“At least I don’t let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.”On Tuesday evening, Abdul El-Sayed won with 52.50 percent of the vote, as opposed to Mike Rogers’ 45.49 percent.