Left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker said his 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11 was not nearly as harmful as President Donald Trump’s comments that San Diego and Los Angeles should be “taken out” by Iran.
Piker’s past statements made on livestreams have created a trove of clips for Republicans to farm as they equate the streamer to Democratic candidates in the midterm elections, framing hopefuls who campaigned with him, such as Michigan’s Abdul el Sayed, as anti-American.
“Imagine a socialist ‘mispeaking’ like this? oh wait … i said something far less damaging than this in 2019 & its currently the only gop midterm strategy,” Piker, a member of Democratic Socialists of America, said.
Piker continued, speculating that Democrats who regularly express worry about Republicans won’t go after Trump for his comments. The streamer, who lives in California, is highly critical of the establishment wing of the Democratic Party, which views Piker as too far to the left over his inflammatory rhetoric.
“But i’m sure dems who leaned into the concern trolling by the gop, won’t make an equal fuss abt the president!” Piker said.
The statement that led Piker to contrast himself with Trump was made Monday evening at a midterm campaign rally in Nebraska. While defending his administration’s war with Iran, Trump said the war is a “small price to pay” for safety in the homeland. The president continued that the “small price” could be Iran targeting a city in the United States.
“Let ’em take out Los Angeles, let ’em take out San Diego,” Trump said. “This is a very small price to pay.”
Trump’s remarks quickly drew the ire of Democrats in the Golden State, including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who said he would direct the State Threat Assessment Center to monitor the situation should Iran take Trump’s remark seriously.
Trump’s Rapid Response X account said the notion had been misinterpreted and that he was making a broader point about the possible costs of war.
“No, he didn’t, you buffoons,” the social media post said. “He was saying the U.S. is fighting to STOP Iran from having the ability to take out LA and San Diego with a nuclear weapon — which they would if they had the chance.”
CALIFORNIA OFFICIALS FURIOUS OVER TRUMP’S LOS ANGELES SAN DIEGO IRAN REMARKS
Piker has had a similar defense when the GOP uses clips from his livestreams to reflect Piker’s true feelings. Piker has since apologized for the remark, clarifying that he was commenting on U.S. foreign policy, not the victims of the terrorist attack.
The streamer is aware of how his digital footprint is used by the GOP and has argued Republicans are elevating him because doing so keeps attention away from problems such as affordability and the economy.