Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Hasan Piker has a right to his own opinions, but people are also free and obligated to call out speech they consider hateful.
Piker, a popular Twitch political streamer who has become a visible figure on the Democratic Party’s left flank, has campaigned and appeared with progressive candidates ahead of the November midterm elections. His political activity has drawn particular attention in Michigan, where he campaigned with Democratic Senate nominee Abdul el Sayed during the primary. El Sayed has since sought to distance himself from some of Piker’s comments, as Republicans have made the streamer a central part of their attack on his candidacy.
Piker’s latest remarks came during an appearance on the Axios Show, where he said the United States is “worse” than al Qaeda “pound for pound” when measured by deaths and argued that the U.S. has caused “tremendous terror” around the world. Al Qaeda was responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
The comments were the latest in a series of controversial statements from Piker. He has also expressed admiration for Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong and defended China’s political model.
“Now that he won’t stop talking, the folks who told us Hasan Piker is a serious voice who should be listened to ought to let us know which of these positions we’re supposed to take seriously,” Emanuel said, pointing to Piker’s comments about Mao, communism, and al Qaeda.
“The great thing about America is that everyone is entitled to their opinions and free to express them, however dumb or immoral,” Emanuel added. “That includes ‘Comrade’ Piker. The rest of us are just as free — obligated even — to call out this vile, hateful speech that only divides America.”
Emanuel has previously called on Democrats to distance themselves from Piker.
In an August appearance on CNN, former President Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff and the former U.S. ambassador to Japan said he would go on Piker’s Twitch show to challenge his rhetoric, arguing that people associated with it should distance themselves from him.
El Sayed has also faced repeated questions about his relationship with Piker. El Sayed has looked to distance himself from Piker after winning a bitter primary election.
HASAN PIKER GIVES DEMOCRATS THEIR LATEST HEADACHE AFTER CALLING US ‘WORSE’ THAN AL QAEDA
Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers called el Sayed “maybe the most anti-American candidate across the country today.”
Emanuel was Chicago’s mayor from 2011 to 2019 and, as Obama’s White House chief of staff, is also considering a 2028 Democratic presidential bid, though he has not launched a campaign.