Abdul el Sayed opposes Hasan Piker after House Democrats speak out
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed responded to controversy sparked by political commentator Hasan Piker, who made antisemitic remarks during a livestream, including threatening comments about American Jews adn Israel. Piker’s comments targeted Michigan State Senator Jeremy Moss and drew criticism from other Democrats, including Rep.Hillary Scholten, who condemned Piker’s rhetoric as hazardous and unacceptable. Piker has increasingly involved himself in Democratic politics, endorsing progressive candidates like el Sayed, though el Sayed publicly distanced himself from Piker’s comments, emphasizing his commitment to fighting antisemitism and focusing on domestic issues. The controversy led to bipartisan condemnations, with lawmakers like Reps. Mike Lawler and Josh gottheimer calling out Piker for promoting antisemitic views and inciting violence. Some democrats also expressed hesitation in supporting el Sayed due to his association with Piker.the incident highlights tensions within Democratic circles over inflammatory online rhetoric and the boundaries of political activism.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed spoke out after prominent political commentator Hasan Piker recently admonished pro-Israel Americans, particularly Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss, amassing criticism from other Democratic lawmakers.
The controversy stems from a recent stream where Piker, an avid socialist, directly discussed Moss, showing his picture while stating: “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.”
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Piker has increasingly inserted himself into Democratic politics during the 2026 midterm election cycle, campaigning alongside progressive candidates and using his platform to promote left-wing candidates. He was a surrogate for el Sayed during the state’s primary campaign.
Meanwhile, el Sayed has worked to distance himself from Piker.
“My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own daughters. Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms. And I stand against any rhetoric that puts the community at risk,” he wrote in a social media post.
“While politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we’re going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools, and healthcare,” el Sayed continued.
But el Sayed was not the first to voice opposition to Piker’s recent comments. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI) first defended Moss, calling Piker a “hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe.”
“Hasan Piker’s talk of violence against American Jews, and directly naming a Michigan elected official, and future Congressional colleague Jeremy Moss, are unacceptable. Full stop,” Scholten said. “Piker is a hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance. It’s dangerous for everyone. We should all be calling out this disgusting rhetoric so it loses its grip on our politics once and for all. It has no place in Michigan, and no place in our country.”
Piker then fired back at Scholten on social media, accusing her of seeking attention and attacking him over his opposition to Zionism.
“If i was an israel 1st congresswoman with a possible cheating scandal with a republican in the state, i wouldn’t spend so much time vying for the spotlight by actively defaming a prominent antizionist voice to harm the dem senate majority chances over a 90/10 issue,” Piker said.
Scholten has previously criticized el Sayed for campaigning with Piker and said she would not commit to supporting el Sayed in the general election.
The backlash against Piker is not limited to Scholten. Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced a bipartisan House resolution in April condemning antisemitic rhetoric from prominent online personalities, specifically naming Piker and right-wing commentator Candace Owens.
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Lawler also condemned Piker in a statement, saying, “Hasan Piker is a threat to America,” and accusing the streamer of promoting antisemitic views and praising socialism while living as a wealthy influencer.
Gottheimer has likewise criticized Piker, saying, “The only one inciting violence against American Jews is Piker and his rhetoric. For the future of our party, Democrats have to call out his hate and condemn these dangerous views. Anyone campaigning with him is part of the problem.”
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