According to a new survey, 22 percent of American undergraduates believe the United States deserved the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and 42 percent prefer socialism over capitalism. The findings suggest the emergence of what might be called Generation Piker, a leftist cohort whose political attitudes increasingly overlap with those promoted by socialist streamer Hasan Piker and organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
‘America Deserved 9/11.’
In 2019, Turkey-raised Piker provoked national outrage when he declared during a livestream that “America deserved 9/11.” While Piker later apologized, claiming that he was criticizing American foreign policy rather than suggesting innocent civilians deserved to die, he has continued to advance harsh criticisms of America, revisiting the controversy in a September 2026 interview, and has expressed support for terrorists such as the Houthis.
Seven years after his original statement, the new undergraduate survey suggests that his attitude has grown rapidly and is becoming increasingly mainstream on campuses nationwide.
Socialism Gains Ground Among Young Americans.
Around 42 percent of respondents preferred socialism, compared with just 28 percent who favored capitalism. Meanwhile, 47 percent agreed that communist countries such as Cuba and the former Soviet Union offered better economic models than the United States. The findings, reported following the survey’s release, reflect the growing appeal of socialist politics among younger Americans.
Piker, who has built a substantial online following through political livestreaming, represents one of the most recognizable faces of this movement. His anti-capitalist rhetoric also overlaps with the official political program of the DSA, which advocates replacing capitalism with democratic socialism and fundamentally restructuring American economic and political institutions. Piker has previously teamed up with the DSA, partnering with them this year to cover the midterm elections.
Hostility Toward American Foreign Policy.
The survey found that 38 percent of students considered Palestinians better allies than Israel, compared with 25 percent who preferred Israel. This mirrors aspects of the DSA’s foreign policy agenda, which calls for ending American military and economic assistance to Israel.
The organization’s political program also opposes American sanctions against countries including Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran. Piker, likewise, has become a prominent online critic of Israel and American support for Israel.
A Generation Losing Faith in America.
According to the Buckley Institute’s original survey, 50 percent of undergraduates agreed with a statement describing America as inextricably linked to white supremacy, while 40 percent supported criminal prosecution for offensive speech.
Among students who preferred socialism, 33 percent believed America deserved September 11, compared with 18 percent of those favoring capitalism.
From Internet Radicalism to Political Influence.
Piker’s influence is no longer confined to livestreams. The socialist commentator has campaigned alongside Democrat candidates, despite his past rhetoric. Meanwhile, the DSA has celebrated electoral gains in the 2026 midterms, demonstrating that organized socialism is seeking influence beyond university campuses and online communities.
The convergence of socialist economics, hostility toward American foreign policy, and growing distrust of national institutions points toward a potentially consequential political constituency largely in line with Piker. Generation Piker may be moving from the margins of internet politics into the mainstream of America’s political future.
