Democrats condemning Hasan Piker as backlash spreads through party
Prominent Democrats are lining up to condemn far-left streamer Hasan Piker after he warned that American Jews could face violence if they continue to be seen as strongly supporting Israel.
The backlash follows a stream last week in which Piker displayed an image of Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss, who is Jewish and the Democratic nominee in Michigan's 11th Congressional District.
Moss has said a fake audio clip is being circulated that falsely portrays him as saying he ran for Congress solely to ensure continued U.S. support for Israel.
"If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone is going to come around and take action, not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews," Piker said.
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Piker's comments drew criticism from top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and DNC Chair Ken Martin, as well as lawmakers who have criticized him before. Others who have appeared with Piker or defended engaging with him are now pushing back on his remarks.
Here are the Democrats speaking out:
Jeffries joined the backlash Monday, initially without mentioning Piker by name. The House Democratic leader called the claim that American Jews were inviting violence against themselves "dangerous and antisemitic."
Asked on CNN the following day whether he was referring to Piker, Jeffries said yes.
"Those comments were dangerous, malicious and antisemitic and should not be tolerated by anyone in the public square," Jeffries said.
Schneider was one of the first Democratic lawmakers to publicly take on Piker, calling him an "unapologetic antisemite" in March and warning fellow Democrats against giving a platform to people who espouse hate.
PIKER DEMANDS DEMOCRATS DEFEND HIM FROM ATTACKS, CLAIMS HE’S NO ‘TOXIC RADICAL FORCE'
Schneider renewed that criticism Tuesday, saying Piker's latest remarks were consistent with his "history of antisemitic statements."
"Hasan Piker's hateful ideas and antisemitic remarks have no place in America or our nation's politics," Schneider said.
Slotkin, who had previously criticized Piker and his involvement in Michigan Democratic politics, spoke out again after his latest comments.
"No community should face the threat [of] violence for their political views," Slotkin said, rejecting the idea that Jewish Americans should be blamed for antisemitism directed at them.
Stevens criticized Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed earlier this year for campaigning with Piker and made clear she would not do the same.
Piker was the "exact opposite" of someone she would campaign with, Stevens said. She later said she believed Piker should be condemned.
Booker's team had already kept its distance from Piker, turning down an appearance with the streamer over his past comments.
Booker went further this week, directly condemning Piker's rhetoric about Jewish Americans and saying it has no place in public discourse.
In April, McMorrow criticized Piker's role in Michigan Democratic politics and his inflammatory style.
She compared Piker's approach to that of far-right commentator Nick Fuentes, arguing that both use inflammatory rhetoric to attract attention.
Gottheimer has been among Piker's most persistent Democratic critics. In April, he joined Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York in introducing a bipartisan House resolution condemning antisemitic rhetoric from Piker and Candace Owens.
In an interview on Fox News' "America's Newsroom," Gottheimer praised Jeffries pushback against Piker, calling the streamer’s comments something "right out of the Nazi playbook," emphasizing them as "a call for violence against Jews."
Gottheimer on Tuesday also called on House leaders to bring the resolution up for a vote.
He also told CNN in an interview that anyone who does not condemn Piker’s comments is "complicit."
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Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville drew a line between himself and part of the Democratic Party embracing Piker earlier this month.
Carville said he would leave the party if Piker's wing took control, arguing there was no room for both of them under the same political tent.
He later told Fox News' "Jesse Watters Primetime" he is not concerned about socialists taking over the Democratic Party, dismissing the party's socialist flank as a "pack of fools" and "a bunch of silly people."
Fetterman earlier this month took aim at El-Sayed over his ties to Piker during Michigan's Democratic Senate primary.
"I dare you to continue to campaign with people like Hasan Piker," Fetterman said.
Fetterman's comments were aimed primarily at Democrats associating with Piker rather than a direct response to the streamer's latest remarks.
Moskowitz distanced himself from Piker last week after defeating a Democratic primary challenger who had Piker's backing.
The Florida Democrat made clear after the race that he wanted no association with Piker or his politics.
Auchincloss rejected Piker's politics during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday," drawing a clear distinction between the streamer and the Democratic Party.
"The Democratic Party does not stand for what Hasan Piker stands for," Auchincloss said.
Scholten issued one of the sharpest responses after Piker's comments about American Jews and Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss.
"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 said Monday.
She also called Piker a "hack who thrives on hate, shock and awe" and said his rhetoric had no place in Michigan or the country.
Moss, who was directly discussed during Piker's stream, on Monday pushed back after Piker displayed his image while talking about American Jews and Israel.
Moss said there was "no room for extremism in Michigan."
Khanna's response was notable because he has appeared on Piker's show and previously defended his decision to engage with the streamer.
But on Monday, Khanna rejected Piker's latest argument, saying antisemitism should be condemned unequivocally and that Jewish people and supporters of Israel are not responsible for antisemitism directed at them.
El-Sayed, whose Michigan Senate campaign has faced criticism over his association with Piker, sought to put some distance between his campaign and the streamer after the latest controversy on Monday.
El-Sayed said Piker does not speak for him or his campaign and condemned antisemitism. He stopped short, however, of directly condemning Piker himself.
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Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin joined the criticism Tuesday, bringing the national party's leadership into the dispute.
Martin condemned the idea that American Jews should be blamed for hatred, threats or violence directed at them, calling such rhetoric dangerous, wrong and antisemitic.
Rosen, co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, said Piker had used antisemitic tropes before but on Tuesday described his latest remarks as "a new low."
The Nevada Democrat rejected the suggestion that Jewish Americans bear responsibility for antisemitism or violence directed at them.
Torres, a longtime Piker critic, again spoke out Tuesday after the streamer's comments about American Jews.
The New York Democrat accused Piker of blaming Jewish victims for the antisemitism directed against them, adding to his previous criticism of the streamer.
Stanton joined the Democrats speaking out Tuesday over Piker's latest comments.
The Arizona congressman rejected the argument that Jewish Americans bear responsibility for hatred or violence directed against them.
Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.