Hasan Piker's Comments Create Headaches for Abdul El-Sayed

Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic candidate running for Senate in Michigan. This week, he was pushed to publicly reject comments made by Hasan Piker, a popular online streamer. Mr. Piker said in an interview that the United States has caused more terror than Al Qaeda, the group behind the September 11, 2001 attacks. Dr. El-Sayed quickly said he disagreed, but the controversy has kept growing.

Mr. Piker made his latest remarks in an interview with Axios on Wednesday. The interviewer asked if Mr. Piker believed the U.S. was responsible for more deaths from terror than Al Qaeda, which killed 2,977 people on 9/11. Mr. Piker answered, 'Pound for pound, as far as the number of deaths, yes. We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.' He pointed to a U.S. military strike that hit an elementary school in Iran, killing at least 175 people, mostly children.

Dr. El-Sayed responded quickly with a public statement. 'I do not agree with this statement, nor do I give much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer,' he said. He added that he was focused on issues like gas prices, groceries, and health care. He has said for weeks that he disagrees with Mr. Piker on many things and will not campaign with him in the general election.

Mike Rogers, the Republican candidate in the race, demanded that Dr. El-Sayed fully condemn Mr. Piker. He released a statement saying 'enough is enough.' Mr. Rogers has used Mr. Piker's comments to argue that Dr. El-Sayed is outside the mainstream. This Michigan Senate race is seen as one of a few key contests that could decide which party controls the Senate.

Dr. El-Sayed explained that he worked with Mr. Piker during the primary because he wanted to reach Mr. Piker's large, young audience. He said that audience feels left out of politics. The two appeared together at college campus rallies in April and at Dr. El-Sayed's primary night party in Detroit in August. Dr. El-Sayed has repeatedly said he has no plans to campaign with Mr. Piker going forward.

Some Jewish Democrats have been especially vocal in asking Dr. El-Sayed to cut ties with Mr. Piker. Mr. Piker has strongly criticized Israel and made controversial statements about the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The Michigan Democratic Jewish Caucus has not endorsed Dr. El-Sayed. A group of Jewish voters did write a letter of support for him on Wednesday, but others remain uneasy about his connection to Mr. Piker.

At a debate on Tuesday, Dr. El-Sayed said he disagreed with Mr. Piker's views, including 'his ridiculous comments about 9/11.' But he also said he does not want to play a 'cancel culture gotcha game' about who candidates can talk to. Mr. Piker, for his part, said media outlets focus too much on him to attack Dr. El-Sayed, and that he is 'totally independent' from the campaign. The race remains closely watched as Election Day gets closer.