Sean Hannity, host of Fox News' "Hannity," confronted former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday evening regarding comments made by leftist streamer Hasan Piker. Hannity, along with other conservative media figures, has sought to position Piker as a controversial figure whose statements should be addressed by Democratic candidates.
Hannity directly asked de Blasio, "Do you like Hasan Piker? Do you support him?" De Blasio responded with mixed views but drew a parallel between Piker's controversial remarks and those of former President Donald Trump. "I think the way you’re describing him, you could’ve been talking about Donald Trump, honestly. Cozies up to dictators, says extreme things. C’mon," de Blasio stated.
The exchange became tense when Hannity, apparently unprepared for the comparison, told de Blasio, "Bill, you’re breaking the rules." De Blasio retorted, "I didn’t agree to the rule, my friend." Hannity had initially attempted to set a condition for the interview, asking de Blasio to answer questions "right away" to ensure efficiency. De Blasio acknowledged the request but declined to fully agree, stating, "No. But go ahead."
Piker himself reportedly approved of de Blasio's response, sharing his reaction on the social media platform X.