Rep. Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., has sharply criticized Twitch streamer Hasan Piker for remarks she characterized as inciting violence against American Jews who support Israel. Scholten denounced Piker as "a hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance."
Piker, who has gained a significant following online and become more visible in Democratic politics, suggested during a recent stream that if American Jews continue to support Israel, "eventually someone will come around and take action" against them, rather than Israel itself.
During the August 20 stream, an image of Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss, who is running for a congressional seat, was visible in the background as Piker made his remarks. Scholten stated that Piker's comments, which directly named a Michigan elected official, were "unacceptable" and had "no place in Michigan, and no place in our country."
Piker's comments drew criticism from other figures as well. Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whom Piker had endorsed, issued a statement denouncing antisemitism and rhetoric that endangers the Jewish community. El-Sayed emphasized that "all Americans deserve the right to advocate for what they believe without fear of violence" and affirmed his commitment to Jewish safety, stating, "Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms."
El-Sayed also clarified that Piker did not speak for his campaign, stating, "nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople."
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) also condemned Piker's remarks, asserting that by using Moss's image, Piker "put a target on the backs of Sen. Moss, Jewish candidates and officeholders, and American Jews alike." The AJC added that "blaming Jews for the antisemitism directed at them is itself antisemitism" and called on public officials who have platformed Piker to denounce his statements.
Piker's comments emerged amid a separate controversy surrounding an audio clip in which Moss was purportedly heard discussing his congressional campaign's purpose in relation to U.S. support for Israel. Moss has stated that the clip was fabricated and represented a "manipulated and unsourced audio, with things I never did and never would say," calling it part of a "dangerous era of disinformation."