Democrat blasts Hasan Piker as ‘hack who thrives on hate’
Rep. Hillary Scholten condemned streamer Hasan Piker for inflammatory remarks about American Jewish support for Israel that she said incited violence against Michigan state Senator Jeremy Moss.
Representative Hillary Scholten, representing Michigan’s 3rd congressional district, issued a scathing statement Monday denouncing Piker as a hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe because he lacks substance, as reported by New York Post.
The statement specifically referenced Piker’s targeting of Michigan state Senator Jeremy Moss, who is Jewish and currently running for Congress.
“Hasan Piker’s talk of violence against American Jews, and directly naming a Michigan elected official, and future member of Congress, Jeremy Moss, is unacceptable. Full stop,” Scholten declared, according to New York Post. She called for universal condemnation of what she termed disgusting rhetoric that has no place in Michigan or the nation.
Streamer Fires Back at Congresswoman
Piker, who commands a significant social media audience, responded aggressively to Scholten’s criticism by labeling her an “Israel 1st congresswoman” on social media platform X.
In his response, the streamer suggested Scholten was exploiting the controversy for political gain, referencing unspecified allegations and claiming she was attempting to harm Democratic Senate majority prospects by attacking what he characterized as a prominent anti-Zionist voice.
Michigan Senate Race Connection
The controversy comes as Piker has maintained high visibility in Michigan politics this election cycle. He publicly supported Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who successfully defeated Representative Haley Stevens in a primary contest earlier this month.
El-Sayed faced criticism during his campaign for appearing alongside Piker, with opponents arguing the streamer’s rhetoric crossed acceptable boundaries. Scholten had endorsed Stevens prior to the primary, praising her as a smart and capable leader.
Candidate Responds Without Full Condemnation
Following the eruption of controversy, El-Sayed issued a statement that stopped short of directly condemning Piker while denouncing antisemitism broadly.
The Senate candidate emphasized that all Americans deserve the right to advocate without fear of violence, particularly communities historically subjected to intimidation. He stressed his commitment to Jewish safety and opposition to any rhetoric endangering the community.
El-Sayed clarified that Piker does not speak for his campaign, stating that only he and his official spokespeople represent the campaign’s positions.
Jewish Organizations Condemn Remarks
Multiple Jewish advocacy organizations issued sharp rebukes of Piker’s statements.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit characterized Piker’s remarks about violence against Jewish Americans while displaying Moss’s image as repugnant and antisemitic. The organization called on responsible leaders to condemn what it described as extremist, attention-seeking conduct that divides Americans and endangers the Jewish community.
The American Jewish Committee stated Monday that by using Moss’s image, Piker placed a target on the backs of the senator, Jewish candidates and officeholders, and American Jews generally. The organization argued that blaming Jews for antisemitism directed at them constitutes antisemitism itself.
Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, questioned whether elected officials associating with Piker actually watch his content or simply pursue his audience reach while ignoring what Greenblatt termed rampant antisemitism.
Greenblatt criticized what he called Piker’s “Jewsplaining,” describing the streamer as appointing himself an authority on antisemitism while lecturing Jews about what constitutes antisemitism and blaming the Jewish community for hatred directed against it.
Original Controversial Statements
The backlash stems from Piker’s August 20 livestream, during which he appeared to warn American Jews against supporting Israel, suggesting such support could provoke violence against them domestically.
According to New York Post, Piker stated that if Jews in America continue promoting the idea of singular investment in Israel, eventually someone will take action not against Israel but against American Jews. He made these comments while displaying an image of Moss, who is seeking Stevens’ congressional seat.
Piker’s remarks came amid circulating audio purportedly showing Moss claiming the entire purpose of his congressional campaign was ensuring continued American support for Israel. However, the Michigan Democrat insisted the audio was fabricated and manipulated.
With information from New York Post
