As my RedState colleague Nick Arama reported, DSA-backed Michigan Democrat Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed issued a curious statement on Monday in response to yet another antisemitic rant from his buddy, Twitch streamer Hasan Piker. Arama wrote:
While he says he "stands against any rhetoric that puts the community at risk," he doesn't specifically condemn Piker, nor does he disavow him or say he won't be campaigning with him in the future. While he attacks "politicians and pundits for making it about a Twitch streamer" (he doesn't even name which streamer), he's the one who made Piker an issue by campaigning with him. People aren't making up the association.
No, they are not. But El-Sayed attempted to put up an X version of that tautological mess that liberals love: "Hate has no home here," and pretended he is focused on the issues, not on his less-than-savory association with a known flamethrower and antisemite.
Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who is Jewish, essentially said, "Sure, Jan." After all, didn't Mason Pressler, the Northern Michigan regional political manager for El-Sayed's campaign, assume hatred in an F-150 truck flying an American flag in Trump-backed Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers' campaign ad?
Does this include your Northern Michigan campaign manager who compared driving an old Ford-150 to the KKK?
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) August 24, 2026
Or does he still speak for you? https://t.co/OCeCX6fbiA
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the organization that Piker and El-Sayed love to rant about because of the group's support of Israel and Israel-centric politicians, also indicated that they got El-Sayed's memo, loud and clear.
Crystal clear. https://t.co/bIR8wXNfTX pic.twitter.com/KaCMtnos99
— AIPAC 🇺🇸🇮🇱 (@AIPAC) August 24, 2026
Journalist Dave Marcus also called out El-Sayed's attempt to dodge his close association with Piker.
3 weeks ago Abdul was kicking it with Piker at an Election Day pool party. Now he can’t even say his name. He’s just “a twitch streamer.” It must be exhausting to be this phony. https://t.co/Hf68sLAUay
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) August 24, 2026
And National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) press person Sarah Gallagher posted this video gem:
Just a few months ago, Abdul El-Sayed and Hasan Piker had a "productive day" together "talking about Trump potentially dying" https://t.co/qipd0of6Gu pic.twitter.com/Q0EHeyryBw
— Sarah Gallagher (@sgallz_) August 24, 2026
Of course, Mike Rogers and his campaign war room have been all over this, posting all the ways El-Sayed has propped up and supported the "Twitch streamer." Rogers rightly calls El-Sayed's statement a "sham."
https://t.co/WrDiMIHKsk pic.twitter.com/NcCotAWijv
— Mike Rogers (@MikeRogersForMI) August 24, 2026
Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark.
But it is the DSA darlings who are most butthurt. They are all in their feels, blaming everyone from Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to the "D.C. consultancy class." Anyone but El-Sayed and his poor judgment.
DSA activist Michael Beyer claims the statement reeks of Schumer's influence.
The stench of DC Democrat consultant advice. Nothing statement that pisses off both sides and legitimizes an enemy's bad faith attack. You can see Chuck Schumer's signature all over this. Not a fatal mistake, but it can become one if he keeps it up. https://t.co/l6UbZKJKqJ
— Mike from PA (@Mike_from_PA) August 24, 2026
This commenter begs El-Sayed not to "cave to every attack." What did he cave to? He couldn't even say Piker was wrong, or call him out by name.
*sigh*
— The Logically Left Pissed Off Bear - 🏳️🌈 ✊🏿 (@Logically_Left) August 24, 2026
Please don't reach the stage where you cave to every attack.
You represent the people that brought you to the Ball. "All" people didn't bring you to the Ball. "All" people don't support you. Obama did this and ended up being ineffectual. That's why YOU won the primary.
Then there are those who see the handwriting on the wall.
I want Abdul to win desperately, but the most predictable thing in the world was that Piker would inevitably become a serious liability in a general election. If you care about Abdul's campaign succeeding, you should want him to distance himself from Piker clearly and directly. https://t.co/6udYKmxDSH
— tré easton (@treeaston) August 24, 2026
If El-Sayed wants to stop taking on water to his sinking campaign, he's gonna have to address his Piker Problem. El-Sayed seems extremely reluctant to quit him, even if it means losing a Senate seat for the Democrats.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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