El-Sayed Breaks With Streamer Over Antisemitism Remarks

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself Monday from left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, after Piker told his Twitch viewers that American Jews' support for Israel will make antisemitism worse and invite violence against them.

El-Sayed, who has campaigned alongside Piker several times, said in a statement that "nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople," according to CNN.

He faces Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in November in a race that could decide control of the Senate.

What Piker Said

Piker made the comments last week during a livestream while discussing state Sen. Jeremy Moss, the Democratic nominee for Rep. Haley Stevens' House seat, who has refused to endorse El-Sayed.

"If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone's going to come around and take action — not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews," Piker said, per CNN.

He added: "You're running around basically tying your entire identity to a country that inevitably will be seen as basically Jewish ISIS, and you're saying, as Jews, this is all we care about. You're making antisemitism worse."

Piker appeared to be referencing an audio clip circulating online that purportedly features Moss, who is Jewish, saying that continued US support for Israel is the only purpose of his House campaign. Moss has denied it, calling the clip "manipulated and unsourced audio with things I never did and never would say."