Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has drawn criticism for his 9/11 message posted on social media, with opponents highlighting his past association with streamer Hasan Piker. Piker, a progressive streamer, has previously made controversial statements, including a remark that the U.S. "deserved 9/11."

El-Sayed's post on X stated, "They didn’t just attack America that day they attacked the idea of America. The notion of a nation brought together by ideals — a place where freedom and commitment to justice bind us, even if, at times, we struggle to fully realize it. Today on 9/11 we remember the lives that were taken from us in a terrible act of terrorism."

Following the post, conservative accounts and political commentators quickly resurfaced El-Sayed's friendship with Piker. Steve Guest, a former staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, shared a photo of El-Sayed and Piker together, including a caption quoting Piker saying, "‘I hate America… at least I say it with my f---ing chest.’"

GOP consultant Ryan Girdusky called El-Sayed a "piece of sh--" for campaigning with someone who made such remarks. Joanna Rodriguez, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, criticized El-Sayed for being "unwilling to disavow your chief spokesman who said 'America deserved 9/11'" and for showing sympathy for terrorists.

Joey Mannarino, co-founder of the Overton Institute, questioned El-Sayed's viability as a candidate, calling him a "radical Islamist extremist" due to his ties to Piker.

El-Sayed has previously addressed his relationship with Piker, stating that while he doesn't share all of Piker's views, "nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokesperson." He has also emphasized his campaign's focus on issues like gas prices, groceries, schools, and healthcare, asserting that these are the concerns Michiganders raise.

Investigative reporter Chuck Ross of the Washington Free Beacon noted that El-Sayed's recent 9/11 statement deviated from his usual approach, which often includes commentary on the aftermath of the attacks and the subsequent "War on Terror." In October 2023, El-Sayed invoked 9/11 in a post about the conflict in Gaza, writing, "When do we learn that more violence doesn’t fix violence?"

El-Sayed's campaign did not respond to requests for comment regarding his efforts to disavow Piker's past statements.