Detroit – Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed publicly clarified his campaign’s position on Monday after left‑wing streamer Hasan Piker made remarks linking American Jews’ support for Israel to potential violence. El‑Sayed, who is contesting Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers for the seat, said the campaign’s messaging comes solely from him and his staff.
Statement emphasizes safety of Jewish community and families
“I believe all Americans deserve the right to advocate for what they believe without fear of violence. This is particularly true for communities that have been intimidated for their beliefs in the past,” El‑Sayed said in the statement. He added, “My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own daughters. Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms. I stand against any rhetoric that puts the community at risk.”
Background on the controversy
Last week, Piker told his Twitch audience that if Jews in America continue to be portrayed as singularly invested in Israel, “someone’s going to come around and take action – not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews.” He later defended the comment on X, saying it was criticism of the conflation of support for Israel with Jewish identity, not a call for violence.
The remarks sparked bipartisan backlash. Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers called the comments “more calls for violence coming out of the El‑Sayed campaign” and urged El‑Sayed to disavow Piker entirely. Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten, who did not endorse El‑Sayed after the primary, also condemned the streamer, calling him a “hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance.”
El‑Sayed’s campaign ties to Piker
El‑Sayed has previously appeared with Piker at campaign events, including a joint appearance in Detroit on the eve of his narrow primary victory over Rep. Haley Stevens and a later pool‑party gathering with progressive influencers. The candidate said he sought to reach Piker’s large young audience despite disagreeing with some of the streamer’s views. He now downplays the influencer’s impact, accusing “politicians and pundits” of trying to make the race about a Twitch streamer.
Related statements from state Sen. Jeremy Moss
During the same livestream, Piker referenced an audio clip that allegedly featured state Sen. Jeremy Moss, a Jewish Democrat, saying that supporting Israel is the sole purpose of his House campaign. Moss denied the clip, calling it “manipulated and unsourced.” He warned that provocateurs were exploiting the moment to deepen divisions and rejected being lectured by a California podcaster about what Michigan’s Jewish community should believe.
Implications for the Senate race
El‑Sayed, an outspoken critic of the Israeli government, is working to broaden his appeal after a bruising primary. The controversy adds pressure as he seeks to attract voters who may be uneasy about Piker’s remarks while still courting the younger, progressive base.
Both campaigns continue to navigate the fallout, with El‑Sayed emphasizing his personal commitment to safety and unity, and his opponents using the incident to question his judgment and alliances.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
