DETROIT — One day before Michigan’s Senate primary, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed appeared alongside controversial left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, a polarizing online figure who once said that “America deserved 9/11,” and used one of his closing campaign stops to deliver a broader critique of the United States and its political system.
Piker praised the enthusiasm El-Sayed has generated among some unlikely Democratic primary voters. “I’ve been seeing a lot of clips of like white dude bros that are so stoked to vote for you in the f—ing Democratic primaries,” he said. “Like, these are people that normally never vote at all, let alone in a primary, let alone for a Democrat.”
The pair also reacted with delight to veteran Democratic strategist James Carville’s suggestion that he might leave the Democratic Party if Piker gained influence over it. Piker said the possibility was “sweetening the deal.”
El-Sayed responded by drawing a comparison to the political fallout from Donald Trump’s rise. “If you look at what happened with Trump, you had a whole bunch of like center-right people realize that they had no home in the party that they destroyed. And then they all came to our party and [are] trying to tell us what our party ought to be,” he said.
El-Sayed’s association with Piker has prompted sharp criticism, largely because of the streamer’s past incendiary comments and rhetoric on politics, terrorism and foreign policy.
Earlier this year, Piker said that “if you cared about Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott,” referring to the Republican senator from Florida.
RELATED: Tucson Grandmother Who Beat Cancer Twice Killed in Alleged Attack
He has also argued that the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel was a “direct consequence” of the Jewish state’s actions and said that if attackers committed rape, it “doesn’t change the dynamic for me.”
Piker has also defended Hezbollah, which the United States designates as a terrorist organization, and praised the “brave mujahideen” who wounded outgoing Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas).
Piker has conceded that some of those statements were wrong.
El-Sayed has refused to denounce Piker and rejected the pressure to do so as cancel culture, while caveating that he disagrees with some of the things the streamer has said.
During his final rally before primary day, which took place at the Congregation in Detroit, Piker stood in the audience, alongside Colorado congressional hopeful Melat Kiros, Michigan congressional hopeful Donavan McKinney, and other lefties.
He used his final speech to reflect on the country’s 250th anniversary and history of sins with slavery, the treatment of Native Americans, and racism.
“Despite moral failures, despite the challenges of our country, there has always been one thing about this country that was bigger than all those things: is that inside our country we have the capacity to correct,” he said.
“I love America. And I love America because I know exactly what my life should have been but for the accident of history that allowed me to be born in America,” he added. “I got vaccinated against diseases that killed an aunt and uncle I never got to meet.”
