Hasan Piker becomes flashpoint in Dem circles as some condemn his rhetoric

Controversial, far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has entered politics in real life, where his presence has caused a rift in the Democratic Party.

Some Democrats have embraced Piker and even campaigned with him, while others have called on the party to disavow the broadcaster for what they describe as antisemitic and anti-American views.

Piker started his daily online streams in 2018 and has since gained a large following, including 3.1 million followers on Twitch, where he streams for several hours on a typical day.

The broadcaster called religious Jews “nativist,” defended Hamas as “a thousand times better than the fascist settler colonial apartheid state,” mocked discussions of antisemitism on college campuses, and harshly criticized a listener who criticized Hamas’ October 7 massacre as a “brutal bloodthirsty pig dog.” Piker also minimized reports of mass sexual assaults during the October 7 attacks. Times of Israeland said, “It doesn’t matter whether the rapes took place on October 7 or not. It doesn’t change the dynamic for me.”

Piker, who was raised Muslim, has repeatedly denied allegations that he is antisemitic, and despite what critics say about his rhetoric, he often says he uses his platform to combat anti-Semitism.

DEMOCRATS join forces with far-left broadcaster who once said ‘AMERICA DESERVES 9/11’

In one of his most criticized moments, Piker said “America deserved 9/11” during a 2019 broadcast. After the intense reaction, Piker said: in an interview Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur said it “clearly” did not mean America deserved the attacks and accused critics of failing to ignore “the actual truth of what I’m talking about” and explained the viral quote as a criticism of US foreign policy.

“I should have used more precise and better language there,” Piker said in a 2019 interview. “It’s awful that I should be given the opportunity to have the moral right to take a stand on an issue like this when they are 100 percent responsible for the bloodshed.”

He later admitted in the interview that his comments regarding 9/11 were “inappropriate.”

A friendly profile of him on progressive debut GuardThe newspaper, which also described him as “fashionable and handsome”, was concerned that his remarks about September 11 would be “understood” by his critics.

Piker has recently become a dividing point within the Democratic Party; some candidates choose to campaign with him, while others warn that legitimizing him gives political support to Republicans.

Running for the US Senate in Michigan, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed recently came under heavy criticism after announcing his plan to hold two campaign events with Piker. Amid the growing backlash, El-Sayed addressed the issue: a videoHe explains his decision to appear with Piker as an attempt to reach out to people who feel left out of traditional politics. But he also said he agreed with Piker on a variety of issues, including criticism of the war in Iran, harsh criticism of the pro-Israel AIPAC’s role in politics, and support for free healthcare.

CONDEMNS MEETINGS OF ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS WITH LEFT-LEFT PUBLISHER HASAN PIKER

Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemns planned events with ADL Michigan Regional Director Elyssa Schmier He said El-Sayed’s decision to appear on stage with Piker was “another example of the increasing normalization of extreme anti-Zionism in mainstream spaces.”

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt He condemned Piker’s “long history of praising and excusing terrorism” and said the broadcaster “routinely uses its platform to spread anti-Semitic tropes, amplify the propaganda of designated terrorist groups, and promote virulent anti-Zionism.”

Greenblatt said it was “absolutely shocking” that El-Sayed decided to campaign with Piker, especially after the attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Mich.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DY, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. and progressive stars like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani appeared on Piker’s show.

He appeared on CNN this week to discuss his recent trip to Cuba. brag about showing up on her “friend” Elex Michaelson’s show after she was harshly criticized by CNN host Jake Tapper on the same channel.

Hasan Piker attended the 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Mark Guiducci at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Taylor Hill/FilmMagic via Getty Images)

MAMDANI DRIVES VIRAL DISCOUNT WITH DINNER PHOTO WITH MAHMOUD KHALIL AT GRACIE MANSION: ‘SHAMEFUL’

Effie Phillips-Staley, who is running for Congress in New York’s heavily Jewish 17th Congressional District, is also facing backlash for her ties to Piker. The Democratic Party hopeful accused Israel of being a genocide and apartheid state during an appearance on Piker’s show on March 28. Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA). The outlet reported that Democratic committees in several New York counties issued a joint statement condemning Piker’s rhetoric and expressing “deep disappointment” in Phillips-Staley.

“His decision represents a dangerous and unacceptable step toward legitimizing rhetoric that has no place in this District, mainstream Democratic politics, or any serious political discourse,” the statement said, according to JTA.

Like El-Sayed, Phillips-Staley said He stated that “Hasan Piker does not live up to every word he has ever said”, adding that it was important to “recognise the tremendous value of a platform that engages millions of young people in the democratic process”.

Rep. Ritchie Torres, DY, condemned Piker In a letter to Twitch CEO Daniel Clancy and several others.

“Hasan Piker emerged as the poster child for the anti-Semitism that broke out in America after October 7,” Torres wrote. “Hasan Piker combined antisemitism with anti-Americanism to emerge as an apologist not only for 7/10 but also for 9/11.”

Hasan Piker joined Zohran Mamdani’s election monitoring party on November 4, 2025. (Selçuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION

Another Democrat, Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., called Piker “an unapologetic anti-Semite” and warned members of his party not to associate with the controversial Twitch streamer.

“Democrats risk losing credibility to condemn right-wingers who engage in bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hate-mongering while our own Members of Congress and candidates celebrate or, worse, platform those who espouse all forms of hate,” Schneider said. wrote to x.

Additionally, Jonathan Cowan, co-founder of the Democratic think tank Third Way, co-wrote a Wall Street Journal opinion piece about the Democratic Party’s affiliation with Piker.

“Mr. Piker is anti-American, anti-woman, anti-Western and anti-Semitic. No Democrat should associate with him. Everyone should try to push him to the sidelines, where he belongs.” article read.

The growing divide among Democrats over Piker underscores a larger challenge for the party ahead of the midterm elections: How to reach progressive voters without alienating moderates or giving Republicans a political opening.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Piker’s team for comment.