Twitch streamer Hasan Piker ignited a firestorm on social media over the weekend after posting a personal remark about the wife of Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas. The exchange began when Gill criticized Piker's previous comments, made in an interview with Axios, where the streamer compared the United States to al Qaeda in terms of terror committed globally.
Gill posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "Hasan Piker is the poster child for why we need to end birth tourism. He was born in America to Turkish nationals, was raised back in Turkey to hate western civilization, and now spends his time working to make America weaker and our enemies stronger." In response, Piker replied, "your wife is indian."
This remark drew swift condemnation. Dinesh D'Souza, Gill's father-in-law and a conservative filmmaker, responded to Piker, saying, "She’s Christian, born in America and her mom is white. Care to show us a picture of your family?"
Rep. Gill himself also responded to Piker's comment, asserting, "My wife is an American, born in America to American citizens. She deeply loves our nation and its culture. You, on the other hand, were born to foreign invaders and want to turn America into the third world culture you were raised in, while advocating for communism at your $3 million mansion in between electrocuting your dog."
Other lawmakers and commentators joined in the criticism. Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., wrote on X, "Wrong. She’s a patriotic American, and you’re a terrorist (sympathizer) who hates this country and wants to destroy it. See the difference?"
Will Chamberlain, an attorney for the Internet Accountability Project, commented on Gill's wife, stating, "she’s an American patriot, while you are a Turkish adversary."
However, some figures defended Piker or criticized the backlash. Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., responded to D'Souza's comment, writing, "Imagine having to say 'her mom is white' for street cred. The self hating MAGA thing is so weird."