Overview
- Last week Hasan Piker said on a prolonged Twitch stream that American Jews who publicly support Israel were “inviting violence” and compared Israel to “Jewish ISIS,” remarks that were widely published on Aug. 23–24.
- During the stream Piker displayed posts and a photo of Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss and warned someone could “take action” against American Jews, elevating threats against a named Jewish elected official.
- Lawmakers from both parties condemned Piker’s comments, with Rep. Hillary Scholten calling his references to violence unacceptable and other Democrats and Republicans publicly denouncing the rhetoric.
- Abdul El‑Sayed issued a campaign statement saying nobody speaks for his campaign besides him and his spokespeople and affirming a commitment to Jewish safety while stopping short of explicitly naming Piker.
- Piker’s long record of inflammatory antisemitic remarks and his role as a high‑profile surrogate for progressive campaigns have turned the incident into an immediate political liability that opponents are using in Michigan races and that raises broader questions about the risks of using online influencers in campaigns.