Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed likened sex-change surgeries on children to circumcisions during an interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters, sparking fierce criticism.

The socialist candidate appeared Monday on Jesse Watters Primetime, where he was pressed on gender reassignment surgeries on children and sharia law bans. Tensions rose as Watters asked el Sayed if he thought it was OK for a parent to “slash his kid’s ding-a-ling off.” El Sayed responded by asking if the host was circumcised before trying to switch topics.