{"id":2588326,"date":"2026-04-08T05:33:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abdul-el-sayed-wont-disavow-hasan-pikers-controversial-past\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T05:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T09:36:13","slug":"abdul-el-sayed-wont-disavow-hasan-pikers-controversial-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abdul-el-sayed-wont-disavow-hasan-pikers-controversial-past\/","title":{"rendered":"Abdul El Sayed won&#8217;t disavow Hasan Piker&#8217;s controversial past"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fabdul-el-sayed-wont-disavow-hasan-pikers-controversial-past%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2588326&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Michigan Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed has embraced left-wing streamer Hasan Piker as part of his bid to appeal to younger voters. At rallies at Michigan state University and the University of Michigan, El-Sayed stood beside Piker, who has a large Twitch following, and did not disavow Piker\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lt-gov-robinson-transgenders-should-be-arrested-if-they-use-preferred-restroom-citing-womens-safety\/\" title=\"Lt. Gov. Robinson advocates for transgender restroom arrests, citing women&#039;s safety\">past controversial remarks<\/a>, including statements critics say verge on antisemitism. The pairing illustrates a broader Democratic strategy to leverage online personalities, though it drew warnings from some opponents who say Piker\u2019s views are outside the mainstream on issues like Israel and foreign policy. Piker framed himself as a megaphone for underrepresented voices, while El-Sayed argued that reaching viewers where they are is essential and defended the collaboration amid questions about antisemitism. The race is a three-way Democratic primary involving Rep. Haley stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, with support from sen. Bernie Sanders and progressive lawmakers like Reps. Summer Lee and Rashida Tlaib. The events also featured extensive livestream coverage and a focus on U.S. support for Israel.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed&rsquo;s unapologetic embrace of Hasan Piker<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2509029\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Michigan Democratic Senate candidate&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3383108\/progressive-democrat-uncommitted-movement-jumps-into-michigan-senate-race\/\">Abdul El-Sayed<\/a> brandished an unremorseful embrace of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4517861\/democrats-squirm-left-embraces-streamer-hasan-piker\/\">left-wing commentator Hasan Piker<\/a> as the two traveled to state college campuses Tuesday to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4519876\/michigan-hopeful-abdul-el-sayed-labels-trump-netanyahu-donkey-iran-war\/\">rally support<\/a> from younger voters.<\/p>\n<p>Piker, who once said that &ldquo;America deserved 9\/11&rdquo; and called Orthodox Jews &ldquo;inbred,&rdquo; is roiling Democrats as he uses his large following online, built from his popularity as a Twitch streamer, to become a surrogate for progressive candidates like El-Sayed.<\/p>\n<p>But El-Sayed, prompted whether he disavowed any of Piker&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >past comments amid bipartisan accusations<\/a> of elevating antisemitic views from the influential streamer, declined to distance himself from any of Piker&rsquo;s controversial positions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not here to disavow people&rsquo;s views,&rdquo; El-Sayed, standing beside Piker, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RNCResearch\/status\/2041617110720225687?s=20\">told reporters<\/a> while at Michigan State University for a rally. &ldquo;This whole gotcha game, platform policing, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/so-close-yet-so-far-jimmy-kimmel-actually-nails-1-reason-trumps-winning\/\" title=\"So Close, Yet So Far: Jimmy Kimmel Actually Nails 1 Reason Trump&#039;s Winning\">cancel culture &#038;mdash<\/a>; I thought we were over it. &hellip; I just think that we need to get over this if we&rsquo;re serious about winning elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The progressive former Detroit health official&rsquo;s association with Piker, who typically streams with candidates rather than stump for them on the trail, is emblematic of those in the party who see value in Piker&rsquo;s younger online following that can bring additional exposure with would-be voters. Yet the perceived friendliness is also drawing warnings from some elected officials and candidates, including opponents on both sides of the aisle in the battleground Michigan Senate race, that Piker falls outside of mainstream discourse and espouses extremist views that should be ignored, particularly on U.S. support for Israel and other foreign affairs.<\/p>\n<p>Piker downplayed the political fallout among Democrats from campaigning with El-Sayed, which he condemned as an orchestrated effort by the Democratic establishment to silence their authenticity against support for Israel and the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;At the end of the day, I&rsquo;m simply a megaphone. You can cancel me if you want, but the feeling is not going to go away,&rdquo; Piker told reporters after a separate rally later in the day at the University of Michigan. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re two Muslim guys that represent the moral majority at the heart &mdash; at the center &mdash; of American politics right now on this issue.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>El-Sayed is in a hotly contested three-way Democratic primary battle with Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, both of whom have condemned him for associating with Piker. So, too, has the presumptive GOP nominee, former Rep. Mike Rogers.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hasan Piker, left, listens as Abdul El Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks in a green room before a campaign rally, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;This is going to be kind of a good vs. evil type of race,&rdquo; Rogers said in a campaign video <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/berniemoreno\/status\/2041676735360500048?s=20\">posted<\/a> Tuesday with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH).<\/p>\n<p>Much of the speeches offered by El-Sayed and Piker at the two college campuses centered on U.S. support for Israel. They rejected accusations that their criticisms amount to antisemitism, which critics in both parties allege, in addition to AIPAC, America&rsquo;s largest pro-Israel lobbying group.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is not antisemitic to criticize a foreign government, and it&rsquo;s not antisemitic to criticize a Super PAC that is intent on aligning our interests with a foreign government,&rdquo; El-Sayed told reporters.<\/p>\n<p>Piker livestreamed the entire day&rsquo;s events nonstop to his more than three million Twitch followers, including the behind-the-scenes moments with El-Sayed, supporters, campaign staffers, and even the van ride between events. El-Sayed acknowledged that reaching Piker&rsquo;s younger audience was what made him a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/haley-and-desantis-chase-tim-scotts-biggest-advantage-to-boost-stance-against-trump\/\" title=\"Haley and DeSantis chase Tim Scott&#039;s biggest advantage to boost stance against Trump\">valuable campaign asset<\/a> in the closely watched toss-up Senate race. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4517861\/democrats-squirm-left-embraces-streamer-hasan-piker\/\">DEMOCRATS SQUIRM AS THE LEFT EMBRACES CONTROVERSIAL STREAMER HASAN PIKER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Part of the reason that it&rsquo;s so important to me to be engaged with somebody like Hasan is because he&rsquo;s talking to these folks every single day,&rdquo; El-Sayed told reporters. &ldquo;And if we&rsquo;re serious about building a politics that unlocks for the folks who feel locked out, you got to be serious about going to the places where they actually are. They&rsquo;re not watching MSNOW, they&rsquo;re not watching CNN, they&rsquo;re not watching Fox News<em>. <\/em>But they are listening and watching on screen.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>El-Sayed is backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and was also joined on the trail Tuesday by progressive &ldquo;Squad&rdquo; members Reps. Summer Lee (D-PA) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>El-Sayed backs Piker amid college tour and controversy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2588327,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26098040732312.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[77374,50410,77375,4188,5894],"class_list":["post-2588326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-abdul-el-sayed","tag-controversy-2","tag-hasan-piker","tag-media","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26098040732312.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2588326"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2588330,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588326\/revisions\/2588330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2588327"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2588326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2588326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2588326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}