Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed declined to disavow past extremist comments by streamer Hasan Piker during a Tuesday campaign stop.
The candidate stood next to Piker and stated it is “critical” that Democrats embrace him despite criticism over Piker’s remarks regarding Israel and U.S. foreign policy. When asked if he would disavow any of Piker’s views, El-Sayed said: “I’m not here to disavow people’s views. This whole ‘gotcha’ game, platform policing, cancel culture—I thought we were over it.”
El-Sayed also defended appearing with Piker on the campaign trail, noting that hesitancy to engage with left-wing surrogates like Piker is “exactly why Democrats too often fail to get our message out to everybody.”
Piker has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for past comments. He made a 2019 livestream remark claiming “America deserved 9/11,” which he later apologized for. Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Piker strongly condemned Israel’s response in Gaza and has used language that Jews and supporters of Israel have labeled antisemitic.
Piker downplayed attacks from critics, stating they were repeating “talking points that someone else has given them.” He added: “It is a heinous smear at the end of the day, and it’s one that many of these groups actually apply, because they can’t have a conversation about Israel’s influence over American foreign policy on moral terms. So instead of attacking the message, they attack the messenger.”
El-Sayed and Piker spoke to approximately 400 people at Michigan State University and also campaigned Tuesday at the University of Michigan.
Rep. John James, R-Mich., who is running for governor, reposted content from investigative journalist Laura Loomer and criticized El-Sayed and Piker: “This is disgusting,” James wrote. “Campaigning with a figure who glorifies violence against the GOP, including my friend @ScottforFlorida (Senator Rick Scott), while spewing antisemitic rhetoric says everything voters need to know about today’s Democrats. We need leaders with courage and character. Not Democrats who cozy up to extremists.”
