Vice President JD Vance accused Democrats of refusing to distance themselves from left-wing streamer Hasan Piker ahead of the midterm elections, arguing that the party is being directed by its “radical left.”
Speaking exclusively to Our News Outlet after a campaign rally in North Carolina on Tuesday, Vance cited several of Piker’s most controversial remarks as evidence of what he described as the Democratic Party’s increasingly radical direction.
Vance condemned Piker’s “completely insane” statements, including his claims that the United States is the “top dog in terrorism” and worse than al Qaeda.
The 35-year-old Twitch streamer has also pointed to communist China as an economic and political “model” for the United States.
Piker has campaigned for or interviewed at least a dozen Democratic candidates seeking congressional office. Among the most prominent are Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“This is not a party that’s actually about the American people anymore,” Vance told Our News Outlet. “It really is a party that’s dominated by and controlled by the far-left radical left.”
Piker’s claim that America “deserved” the September 11 attacks has become a central theme in Republican advertising targeting El-Sayed, 41, in Michigan. El-Sayed is challenging Trump-endorsed candidate Mike Rogers, 63.
The Senate contest is viewed as a toss-up, with polling showing the candidates closely matched.
A Washington Post/George Mason University poll conducted from September 10 to 14 found El-Sayed at 48 percent, three points ahead of Rogers, who received 45 percent support.
Vice President JD Vance rallied supporters in North Carolina and warned that Democratic candidates had been captured by the radical left
Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker takes a selfie with Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed after a campaign event in Michigan
El-Sayed has sought to distance himself from some of Piker’s most controversial remarks
El-Sayed has defended his association with Piker, saying that while he disagrees with some of the streamer’s more radical comments about terrorism, Piker’s large audience remains important to reach.
A prominent young Democratic socialist, Piker has more than three million followers on Twitch and nearly two million subscribers across YouTube and Instagram.
Vance, however, characterized Piker’s politics as “straight-up Marxism” combined with “some economic populism.”
“Many other people said things more interestingly well before he did without all the crazy s**t,” Vance told Our News Outlet.
Vance said Republicans once campaigned against Democrats with notably liberal views, but argued that those candidates were not “crazy” in the way he believes Democrats in 2026 are.
“It’s hard to tag Barack Obama or Bill Clinton as completely insane people. However much you might disagree with their policies, it’s a lot easier to tag El-Sayed and AOC as crazy people because of all the crazy stuff they’ve said and done in public life,” he said.
Vance described AOC and El-Sayed as “crazy people” based on their public comments and conduct
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Hasan Piker attend a party for creators supporting his campaign
Piker has campaigned and supported roughly a dozen Democrats ahead of the midterm elections
Vance campaigned for Republican candidate Michael Whatley in North Carolina on Monday
Vance appeared in North Carolina as Republicans are facing a Democratic upset for control of the seat as former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is currently leading Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley by as much as 15 points.
The vice president said he would continue raising Piker’s extreme views to voters, in the hopes of forcing Democrats to disavow them.
‘It’s kind of been fun to see the various candidates on the left when confronted with something this guy said,’ he told Our News Outlet, adding that it should be ‘very easy’ for Democrats to do so.
‘They can’t do that because they’re so controlled by the interest groups of the far left of their own party,’ he stated.
