A resurfaced clip of far-left streamer Hasan Piker saying “I do hate America” is renewing scrutiny of his ties to Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, just days after Piker himself dismissed the criticism as “laughable.”
In an August 2026 clip, Piker said, “It is completely ridiculous. It’s laughable to say guys like myself, guys like Abdul Al Sayed, ‘We hate America’.” But a separate clip that has circulated since at least 2022 shows Piker saying the opposite in blunt terms.
“I say I hate America all the time. A lot of motherfuckers want to kill me over that tape, but at least I say with my fucking chest, people will be like ‘Hasan, you hate America.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I do. I do hate America,'” Piker said in that earlier clip.
Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) referenced the controversy Sunday on X, writing, “Hating America seems to be a pattern with these two.” His post included a screenshot of a September 11, 2021, post from El-Sayed, who wrote: “Today, I mourn the 3K lives, 6K injuries, & infrastructural devastation in NYC, perpetrated ignorantly in the name of my faith. Tomorrow, I’ll mourn ~1M lives, millions of injuries, & infrastructural devastation in 3 countries, perpetrated ignorantly in the name of my country.”
El-Sayed Pushes Back on the Focus
On Friday’s broadcast of MS NOW’s The Moment, El-Sayed told host Katy Tur, “This campaign is not about a streamer in California. This campaign is about affordability in Michigan. This campaign is about the ability to have healthcare.”
Tur countered that Piker “does campaign with a lot of Democrats,” adding, “So, he’s not just a streamer.” El-Sayed said the focus on Piker rather than “the challenges Michiganders face” was why “a lot of people get so frustrated about politics and political media.” Tur replied, “It’s not just the media, and I reject that framing.”
Tur pointed out that Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) won her Michigan race by only 22,000 votes and asked whether Piker could cost El-Sayed votes in a similarly close contest. El-Sayed responded, “10 in 10 Americans agree that they can’t afford the things that they need in their life,” and added, “if folks want to make this about a streamer in California, they’re welcome to do that. But I’m focused on Donald Trump, I’m focused on addressing the affordability crisis, I’m focused on getting you healthcare, and that’s what I’m going to stay focused on.”
Tur also asked why El-Sayed would not fully disassociate from Piker, citing concerns among Jewish voters in Michigan and mentioning Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. “Why keep him so close? Or why not fully disassociate yourself with him, especially when Michigan is so tight?” she asked. El-Sayed noted he endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris the day after she became the Democratic nominee despite disagreeing with the administration’s stance on Gaza, because he believed Trump would be worse. “I am calling on leaders from all of the communities under the Democratic umbrella to recognize that Mike Rogers is an existential threat to everything we believe in when it comes to our democracy,” he said, before repeating, “This campaign is not about a streamer in California.”
Fellow Democrats Distance Themselves
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) said Wednesday on CNN’s Situation Room that she “strongly disagree[s] with many of the things that Hasan Piker has said.” Citing Piker’s comments about Israel and rape, which she called “simply inexcusable,” Dingell said, “What he has said is just wrong.” She added, “I think it’s incumbent upon Abdul to make it very clear to people that he doesn’t agree with things that Hasan Piker says. I pray we’re not going to see him in Michigan from now until the election.”
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) also criticized Piker during an August 13 appearance on NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas Reports. Asked whether El-Sayed should distance himself from Piker, Stevens said, “Well, I don’t know why. You should ask him.” She added, “I believe he should be condemned. I do,” and said, “I don’t know what the guy has to do with Michigan.” Stevens also said, “I don’t agree with Piker. I don’t think he’s a part of the Democratic Party.”
