Hasan Piker Compares US to Al-Qaeda, Deepening Scrutiny on El-Sayed Ties
The far-left streamer, who has campaigned with the Michigan Senate candidate, reiterated past anti-American rhetoric in a recent interview.
Far-left streamer Hasan Piker, a prominent ally of Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, has intensified scrutiny over his ties to the campaign by doubling down on anti-American rhetoric, including a comparison of the United States to al-Qaeda.
In an interview for "The Axios Show," Piker stated that "pound for pound" America is worse than al-Qaeda in terms of deaths caused by terrorism. He elaborated, "We have caused tremendous terror all around the world." Piker referenced U.S. attacks in Minab, Iran, earlier this year that struck a school, calling the killing of 140 schoolgirls an act of terror and stating there was no distinction between such an event and a terrorist act.
Piker, who has previously made controversial statements such as "America deserved 9/11" and praised Mao Zedong, also said that while not all Americans are terrorists, an "environment of accountability" is necessary.
El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, has faced criticism for his association with Piker, who actively supported his campaign during the primary. Images show the two together at campaign events. Despite calls to condemn Piker's past remarks, El-Sayed has largely attempted to distance himself, referring to Piker as a "streamer from California" and focusing on policy issues.
When asked about Piker's comments on "The Axios Show," El-Sayed's campaign issued a statement to Axios that did not name Piker directly. "I do not agree with this statement [on al-Qaeda], nor do I give much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer," the campaign said. "I am more concerned with the dangerous policies of Donald Trump and Mike Rogers that are raising the prices of gas, groceries and healthcare for Michiganders."
El-Sayed's campaign reiterated this sentiment when contacted by Fox News Digital. During a recent trip to Washington D.C. to meet with Democratic senators, El-Sayed was approached by Fox News Digital regarding Piker. He waved off the question and entered a meeting with senators. His staff later reportedly banned Fox News Digital from an impromptu press event following the meeting.