The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have publicly backed controversial far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, amplifying debates over socialism and its place in the Democrats and American politics more broadly.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has defended far-left Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who previously said “America deserved 9/11,” and endorsed him as “our streamer,” just days before the 25th anniversary of the attacks, which left thousands of Americans dead across New York City, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. 📺 DETAIL: The DSA described Turkey-raised Piker as “*our Twitch streamer” in a statement defending him on Sunday. The statement was published after several Democrat politicians disavowed Piker for his recent comments on Jewish support for Israel in the United States. “If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there 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,” warned Piker in a recent stream. On Monday, Republican lawmakers pushed a resolution condemning socialism in the House of Representatives. The resolution describes socialism as “incompatible with American values and the United States Constitution” and states that “socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has, time and time again, collapsed into communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and repressive dictatorships.” The DSA responded on X (formerly Twitter), “The establishment: Ds, Rs + media, have pivoted from DSA wins to personal attacks, racist dog whistles, symbolic House resolutions, and an obsession with a Twitch streamer. What would happen if they devoted that same attention to the thousands of Americans who die each year because they can’t afford healthcare?” 💬 KEY QUOTE: “America deserved 9/11, dude. F**k it, I’m saying it,” said Piker in a 2019 livestream. 🎯 IMPACT: The controversy has underscored the growing divisions and tensions within the Democrats over socialism and Israel. It also shows how Piker has become politically toxic to much of the Democrats. This controversy comes amid a broader shift to the left among Democrats, with one in three Democrat-aligned voters self-describing as Democratic Socialists. The DSA counts a number of influential Democrat politicians as members, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who recently renewed her DSA membership. A majority of Americans say they are concerned about the rise of socialism and communism in American politics. |
@hasanthehun *our twitch streamer
— DSA (@DemSocialists) August 31, 2026
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