Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a U.S. Senate candidate, attempted to deliver a solemn message on social media commemorating 9/11, claiming the attacks targeted "the idea of America." Yet, his carefully crafted words quickly unravelled as online users sharply reminded him of his uncomfortably close ties to a notorious radical who infamously declared the United States "deserved 9/11." This isn't just a misstep; it's a glaring contradiction at the heart of the progressive left's struggle with fundamental American values.
El-Sayed's post on X began with a seemingly patriotic sentiment: "They didn’t just attack America that day they attacked the idea of America." He continued, describing "The notion of a nation brought together by ideals — a place where freedom and commitment to justice bind us, even if, at times, we struggle to fully realize it." He concluded, "Today on 9/11 we remember the lives that were taken from us in a terrible act of terrorism." The words were an apparent attempt to perform reverence, but the internet has a long memory.
The Democratic hopeful's superficial display was quickly torn apart by social media users who pointed to his close friendship and campaign appearances with Hasan Piker, the far-left streamer known for his appalling declaration that the U.S. "deserved 9/11." The hypocrisy was not lost on a public weary of politicians attempting to rewrite history.
Hasan Piker, left, listens as Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks in a green room before a campaign rally April 7, 2026, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
"Shut up, you FRAUD," retorted Libs of TikTok, a prominent conservative account, in a scathing post. Steve Guest, a political commentator and former staffer for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, drove the point home by posting a photo of El-Sayed and Piker together with Piker's chilling quote: "'I hate America… at least I say it with my f---ing chest.'"
The outrage escalated, with GOP consultant Ryan Girdusky condemning El-Sayed as a "piece of s---" for "Campaigning with a guy who said we deserved 9/11… his brazen dishonesty makes him all the bigger piece of s---." Joanna Rodriguez, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, added, "You’re a disgrace. You remain unwilling to disavow your chief spokesman who said 'America deserved 9/11.' You belittled the American lives lost year after year while giving excuses and showing sympathy for terrorists."
Hasan Piker during an interview at a New Jersey protest. (Michael Dorgan)
Mike Hahn, a GOP digital strategist, succinctly summed up the sentiment, "Good job reading from that script buddy." Joey Mannarino, co-founder of the Overton Institute, expressed disbelief at El-Sayed's viability: "How in God’s name is Abdul El-Sayed even close to winning this race? The man campaigns with people who say America deserved 9/11. He is a radical Islamist extremist if I’ve ever seen one. And this is who Michigan wants to put in the Senate?"
El-Sayed has previously offered weak disclaimers, insisting he doesn’t share all of Piker's views. Following Piker's comment calling Israel a "Jewish ISIS," El-Sayed stated, "But I want to be crystal clear, nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokesperson." He then attempted to pivot, saying, "And while politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we’re going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools and healthcare. Because that’s what Michiganders keep asking about." This attempt to dismiss genuine concerns as a distraction only highlights the depth of the issue.
Investigative reporter Chuck Ross of The Washington Free Beacon noted that El-Sayed's recent 9/11 post notably avoided his usual pivot to criticizing the "War on Terror aftermath" – a common progressive tactic to shift blame. In the past, El-Sayed has invoked the "war on terror" as an example of military aggression, even comparing it to Israel's defense operations in Gaza.
Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks during a primary election night event Aug. 5, 2026, at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
For instance, as Israel prepared to strike Gaza in October 2023, El-Sayed posted, "The President’s visit to Israel as it plans a major escalation & invasion of Gaza is already being held up as an endorsement of the violence being unleashed on innocent Palestinians. I can’t help but hear echoes of 9/11. When do we learn that more violence doesn’t fix violence?" The false equivalency speaks volumes.
El-Sayed's campaign has conspicuously ignored requests for comment on his continued reluctance to unequivocally disavow Piker's anti-American rhetoric. For many Americans, particularly in a state as crucial as Michigan, a candidate's associations and their true feelings about the nation's most traumatic modern attack reveal far more than any carefully worded social media post. True leadership demands clarity and an unwavering commitment to America, not a strategic silence in the face of radicalism.
