Hasan Piker Claims U.S. Caused More Terror Than Al-Qaeda

Political streamer Hasan Piker stated in an interview with Axios that the United States military has committed more terrorism than al-Qaeda, describing the U.S. as the "top dog in terrorism." Piker asserted that the U.S. has caused "tremendous terror all around the world" and is worse than al-Qaeda "pound for pound" regarding the number of deaths caused. He specifically cited a strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in Minab, Iran, as an act of terror, noting a United Nations-backed mission found reasonable grounds to believe U.S. forces were responsible.

These remarks have become a central conflict in the Michigan Senate race between Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed and Republican nominee Mike Rogers. GOP-affiliated groups have spent nearly $3 million on attack ads linking El-Sayed to Piker, highlighting Piker's 2019 statement that "America deserved 9/11," for which the streamer has since apologized.

Abdul El-Sayed has disavowed Piker's al-Qaeda comments, stating he does not give much weight to the statements of a social media streamer. While El-Sayed campaigned with Piker during the primary to reach young voters, he stated he disagrees with Piker on many things and does not plan to campaign with him in the general election. Mike Rogers has used the controversy to characterize El-Sayed as outside the mainstream, arguing that the Democratic nominee cannot distance himself from Piker's views.