Streamer Hasan Piker: US Worse Than Al-Qaeda
Streamer Hasan Piker: US Worse Than Al-Qaeda
The News
Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker says the United States commits more terrorism "pound for pound" than al-Qaeda, the network that carried out the 9/11 attacks.
Piker made the claim to Axios journalist Alex Thompson in an interview for "The Axios Show," released Thursday. "We have caused tremendous terror," he said.
The remark first surfaced in a teaser video for the interview and was picked up within hours by outlets across the spectrum.
Timeline
Axios publishes its interview with Piker, reported from Los Angeles, in which he says he believes America conducts more terrorism in the world than al-Qaeda.
Mediaite reports the comment came during a teaser video for Thompson's sit-down, quoting Piker saying the US has "caused tremendous terror."
The New York Post writes up the interview, reporting that Piker argued the US military has committed more terrorism than the Islamist network behind 9/11.
Reactions
Piker defended the comparison on its own terms, telling Axios the scale of American military action abroad is what drives his judgment: "We have caused tremendous terror."
The New York Post, which covers Piker critically, labeled him a "far-left streamer" and framed the claim as an attack on the US military.
Mediaite noted Piker is one of Twitch's biggest political streamers — a reminder that the comment lands with a large online audience, not a fringe one.
What's Next
The full episode of "The Axios Show" with Thompson is the next thing to watch: the clip that set this off was a teaser, and the complete interview is where Piker's argument will either be pressed or left standing.
Expect the line to be recycled in the wider fight over who gets to speak for the online left.
Poll
Was Hasan Piker's comparison of the US to al-Qaeda defensible?
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