Michigan Senate nominee El-Sayed defends ties to streamer Hasan Piker

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed faced questions about his association with far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker during a Sunday interview on Meet the Press. Piker had said in a 2019 broadcast that America “deserved 9/11,” a remark that has been cited by opponents since El-Sayed’s primary victory over Rep. Haley Stevens by a single percentage point.

El-Sayed called the comment “dumb” and said Piker had since disavowed it, stating, "> Of course it was a dumb statement. I think Hasan himself would say it was a dumb statement. He disavowed it. So yes, America didn’t deserve 9/11."

He added that he preferred accountability for his own actions over what he described as “gotcha politics” and “cancel culture,” noting, "> I want to be held accountable for what I say and do, rather than this idea that we’re stuck in cancel culture."

The exchange mirrored a similar response from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez when asked about Piker on another program. Piker later said on his stream that he was “tired” of repeatedly apologizing for the remark.

El-Sayed’s campaign, which benefited from Piker’s Twitch audience, has drawn criticism from both centrist and progressive Democrats. Former rivals, including Stevens and Mallory McMorrow, attacked the association, but progressive voters pushed back, accusing the attacks of Islamophobia.

Looking ahead to the November general election, El-Sayed said he had spoken with former President Barack Obama and hoped for his support, while receiving an endorsement from Kamala Harris, who said, "> Abdul knows we need bold solutions to the crises facing America’s working families, and he is ready to take on this fight."

The race is expected to become more competitive as pro-Israel lobby groups plan to spend heavily on ads supporting Republican candidate Mike Rogers and criticizing El-Sayed’s ties to Piker.