Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from progressive commentator Hasan Piker during a recent "Meet the Press" appearance, calling the streamer's 2019 claim that America deserved the September 11 attacks a "dumb statement."

El-Sayed told NBC News that Piker himself would acknowledge the remark was foolish. The Senate candidate has maintained a working relationship with the Twitch personality despite repeated attempts by Republican opponent Mike Rogers to tie El-Sayed to the controversial comments.

Piker declared in a 2019 livestream that "America deserved 9/11" and that the country "totally brought it upon ourselves." He walked back the statement two days later in an interview with his uncle, Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks, describing it as an inappropriate attempt at satire.

Campaign Liability

The comments have shadowed El-Sayed's campaign for weeks. Rogers, a former FBI agent and congressman, released statements invoking his law enforcement background "hunting terrorists" while highlighting El-Sayed's connection to Piker.

Fact-checkers noted Rogers falsely suggested El-Sayed himself made the 9/11 remarks. The controversy stems from Piker's active campaigning for El-Sayed during the Democratic primary, which the progressive candidate won decisively.

El-Sayed characterized Piker as having "zero power" beyond his streaming platform. The candidate argued the focus on an online commentator's past statements distracts from substantive policy debates about healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.

Broader Pattern of Controversy

The 9/11 statement represents one piece of a larger pattern that has complicated El-Sayed's Senate bid. Piker has also faced scrutiny for suggestions that pro-Israel rhetoric could incite violence against Jewish Americans, prompting the candidate to distance himself again.

El-Sayed, who would be Michigan's first Muslim senator, has tried to navigate between progressive activists who propelled his primary victory and moderate voters crucial in the general election. His ties to Piker became a flashpoint at the state Democratic convention, where Jewish voters questioned the relationship.

The United Kingdom barred both Piker and Uygur from entering the country earlier this year. The decision reflected concerns about their political commentary, though specific reasons for the travel ban were not disclosed publicly.

Rogers has made El-Sayed's associations a central campaign theme, arguing they reveal judgment unsuitable for the Senate. The Republican points to federal investigators' findings about extremist rhetoric radicalizing attackers as reason for concern about platforming divisive voices.

Democrats counter that guilt by association tactics avoid addressing Rogers' own record on issues like reproductive rights and labor protections. They argue voters care more about kitchen table economics than parsing statements from internet personalities.