Rogers and el Sayed spar over 9/11 in lead-up to Rogers’s convention speech

Molly ParksSeptember 10, 2026

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, political tensions are rising between Republican ex-Rep. Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul el Sayed. Rogers intends too emphasize the anniversary in his upcoming speech at the GOP convention. The dispute has also involved Rogers criticizing el Sayed over his association with socialist twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who previously made controversial and antisemitic remarks about 9/11, though he has as retracted them. El Sayed campaigned alongside Piker during the primary and has refused to fully disavow the streamer. The article also includes promotional content for the Washington Examiner, encouraging readers to subscribe for full access to their news and analysis.

Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul el Sayed are hitting each other hard in the lead-up to Friday’s 25th remembrance of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as Rogers plans to focus on the anniversary in his speech before the GOP convention.

Throughout the campaign so far, Rogers has ripped el Sayed over his relationship to socialist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who previously said America “deserved” 9/11. Although Piker has since walked back the comment, it is one of several controversial and antisemitic statements he has made, and several Democrats have either disavowed or distanced themselves from the left-wing commentator. El Sayed campaigned with Piker during the primary and has refused to disavow the streamer entirely.