Democrats condemn Hasan Piker after he said American Jews invite violence

Democrats condemn Hasan Piker after he said American Jews invite violence

“By Patrick Lancier”

On a Twitch stream on 20 August 2026, Hasan Piker said that if Jews in America keep putting out the idea that they are “singularly invested in Israel,” “eventually someone’s going to come around and take action. Not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews,” the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported on 25 August. Democrats have condemned the remarks. The violence is not the fault of Jews who support Israel.

What Piker said, with Jeremy Moss on the screen

Piker was showing a photograph of Jeremy Moss, a Jewish Michigan state senator running for Congress, the JTA reports. He also called Israel “Jewish ISIS.” The line about “action” against American Jews was spoken over that image. It was not an order to attack. It was a sentence that put Jews who stand with Israel in the path of the threat.

In an email to the JTA, Piker said the remarks were not a threat but a “warning.” He repeated the word “genocide” about Israel. That word is his. It is not a finding in this report. Moss answered: “we certainly won’t be gaslit that we’re responsible for the antisemitic harm upon us.”

Democrats who named him, and those who did not

Rep. Hillary Scholten, a Michigan Democrat, said on Monday: “Hasan Piker’s talk of violence against American Jews, and directly naming … Jeremy Moss, is unacceptable. Full stop.” She called the remarks “disgusting” and “dangerous,” the JTA reports. Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Micah Lasher named Piker. Lasher wrote that the streamer “crosses the line between criticism and Jew hatred.”

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, on X, said there is “zero justification for threats against the safety of our Jewish brothers and sisters.” He did not name Piker. Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, also condemned the remarks without naming him, the JTA reports. NBC News records the same Jeffries line.

El-Sayed steps back. He does not break

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan and a beneficiary of Piker’s platform, distanced himself. Antisemitism, he said, is a scourge. He denounced rhetoric that puts the Jewish community at risk. He did not cut the tie cleanly, the JTA reports. NBC News quotes him saying nobody speaks for his campaign besides him and his spokespeople, and that he will talk about gas, groceries, schools and healthcare.

The Democratic line this week is condemnation. It is not a transfer of blame onto American Jews who support Israel. Moss said it in one sentence: the community will not be told it invited the harm.

FAQ

What did Hasan Piker say?

On Twitch on 20 August 2026, he said that if American Jews keep presenting themselves as singularly invested in Israel, someone will “take action” against American Jews, not against the state of Israel. He also said “Jewish ISIS” about Israel. JTA, 25 August.

Did Hakeem Jeffries name Piker?

No. He said there is “zero justification for threats against the safety of our Jewish brothers and sisters.” He did not name Piker. JTA, NBC News.

What did Abdul El-Sayed do?

He distanced himself. He called antisemitism a scourge and denounced rhetoric that puts the community at risk. He did not break with Piker outright. JTA, NBC News.

Did Piker order an attack?

No. He told the JTA the line was a “warning,” not a threat. Moss said American Jews will not be told they are responsible for the harm done to them.

Sources

• JTA, 25 August 2026 — Piker, 20 August Twitch; “take action” against American Jews; “Jewish ISIS”; Moss on screen; Scholten; El-Sayed; Jeffries without the name; Ken Martin; Slotkin; Lasher; Piker “warning”; Moss, “gaslit.”
• NBC News — El-Sayed distances himself; Jeffries, “zero justification”; Moss; Piker’s “warning” framing.

“By Patrick Lancier”