Hasan Piker, a Democratic-aligned political entertainer known for provocative statements, has claimed that the United States has committed more terrorism worldwide than al-Qaeda, the organization behind the September 11 attacks.
Piker, 35, describes himself as a Marxist and has appeared on the campaign trail with prominent Democratic candidates. In an interview with Axios, he argued that the United States has caused more terror than the Osama bin Laden-linked group when measured by the number of deaths.
“Pound for pound, in terms of the number of deaths, yes, we have caused tremendous terror all around the world,” Piker said during the interview.
He added that American military actions have harmed civilians and countries abroad while also producing consequences for people in the United States.
The socialist livestreamer has long criticized capitalism, conservative politics, Trumpism and what he describes as the American military-industrial complex.
As an example of what he considers US terrorism, Piker cited the bombing of an elementary school in Minab, Iran, earlier this year.
The strike took place on February 28, the opening day of the US-Israeli offensive against Iran. Iranian officials said the attack on Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School killed an estimated 160 people, including 120 children.
Piker said the use of multiple Tomahawk missiles against a school could not be separated from the deaths that followed. “If you’re killing 140 schoolgirls, that is an act of terror,” he said.
Marxist influencer Hasan Piker, 35, has claimed that the United States has carried out more terrorism than al-Qaeda, the group responsible for planning the 9/11 attacks
The streamer, who has more than 8.5 million followers, has campaigned alongside leading Democrats, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, pictured at bottom right
“If you’re killing 140 schoolgirls, that is an act of terror,” Piker said while discussing the US strike on the Minab school and the reported use of multiple Tomahawk missiles
Piker said his remarks were not intended to label all Americans as terrorists. Instead, he argued that greater accountability was needed to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
A recent United Nations mission to Iran found grounds to believe that the attack on the school may have amounted to a war crime, according to a Reuters report published Thursday.
The US military reportedly struck the school by mistake because it stood near an Iranian military facility. Reports have suggested that the targeting data used in the operation was outdated.
The same UN report also accused Iran of committing crimes against humanity.
Piker has recently campaigned for El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Michigan. He has also supported several socialist House candidates in New York.
His history of inflammatory remarks—including a previous claim that America “deserved 9/11,” for which he later apologized—has made him a controversial political figure. His involvement has also created concerns for some of the candidates appearing with him.
El-Sayed has often avoided detailed questions about his connection to Piker, referring to him instead as a “streamer in California.”
“The reason I talk to Hasan isn’t because of Hasan, it’s because of the 3 million people who pay attention to what he has to say,” El-Sayed told Fox 2 Detroit, emphasizing the size of Piker’s audience while distancing himself from the influencer.
Piker generally broadcasts his progressive political program from his home in Los Angeles
Piker has been embraced by progressive lawmakers like Congresswomen Ilhan Omar (left) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Prior to this al-Qaeda comment, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries was the most prominent Democrat to condemn Piker by name, calling his rhetoric ‘unacceptable.’
The son of a wealthy Turkish executive, Piker spent time growing up in Istanbul and Ankara before attending college in his native New Jersey.
His uncle, Cenk Uygur, is the co-creator of The Young Turks show, a progressive show where Piker got his start.
The provocateur has 8.5 million followers across his social media platforms.
