Democratic Sens. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Jacky Rosen of Nevada have publicly condemned livestreamer Hasan Piker following his comments suggesting that Jewish Americans could face consequences for their support of Israel. Piker stated to his viewers, "If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone is going to come around and take action, not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews."
Slotkin characterized Piker's remarks as part of a broader trend of normalizing political violence and antisemitism. "This shouldn’t be hard: no community should face the threat [of] violence for their political views. Period," Slotkin said in a statement posted on social media. "That goes if you’re pro-Israel, pro-Palestine, pro-choice, pro-life or any other cause you care about. And blaming the victims of violence for bringing it on themselves only further endangers people."
She further emphasized the danger of such rhetoric, particularly in light of rising antisemitism and a recent antisemitic attack at a synagogue in Michigan. "In a time where political violence and anti-semitism has been spiking — and where just 6 months ago Michigan had a nearly deadly event of anti-semitic mass violence at Temple Israel — no one should causally be suggesting that anyone, Jews or otherwise, are to blame for being targeted," Slotkin added.
Rosen echoed Slotkin's condemnation, calling Piker's statements "a new low" and a form of antisemitism. "Hasan Piker has been trafficking in antisemitic tropes for a while but even this is a new low," Rosen posted on X. "Blaming Jewish Americans for the violence and hate they’re facing is not just wrong, it provides an excuse to those perpetuating these anti-Jewish hate crimes. Let me be absolutely clear: crimes against Jews for being Jews is antisemitism plain and simple. There’s no excuse for it."
These remarks from Slotkin and Rosen come amid broader criticism from various politicians who argue that Piker's comments amount to victim-blaming the Jewish community for the violence they endure. Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate nominee in Michigan, who has previously distanced himself from Piker's controversial statements, has also appeared to separate himself from the streamer in light of this latest controversy.
Piker has a history of making controversial statements, including remarks about 9/11 and economic policy.