Michigan Democratic Senate Candidate El‑Sayed Defends Rallies With Hasan Piker, Rejects 9/11 and Oct. 7 Justification Claims
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed defended appearing at rallies with left‑wing streamer Hasan Piker while explicitly distancing himself from Piker’s past controversial remarks, telling Fox & Friends, “Of course I oppose rape. Of course I don't think 9/11 was justified,” and framing criticism as “cancel culture.” He said candidates must engage broadly to win votes, reinterpreted his comment that some in Dearborn were “sad” over Ayatollah Khamenei’s death as reflecting the Iran war’s impact on gas prices, U.S. service members and the $1–2 billion‑a‑day cost, and insisted he is “no apologist for any regime” and that “the end doesn’t justify the means.”
📌 Key Facts
- On April 7, 2026, during an interview on Fox News' 'Fox & Friends,' Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed defended his decision to appear with podcaster Hasan Piker.
- El‑Sayed framed criticism of his appearance as 'cancel culture' and said candidates should be willing to 'go and talk to anyone anywhere' to earn votes.
- He explicitly distanced himself from Piker's past controversial remarks, saying, 'Of course I oppose rape. Of course I don't think 9/11 was justified.'
- El‑Sayed offered a revised explanation for an earlier comment that people in Dearborn were 'sad' over Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, saying he meant 'all of us are sad today' because the Iran war is raising gas prices, costing U.S. service members’ lives, and consuming $1–2 billion a day in taxpayer funds.
- He described himself as 'no apologist for any regime, including our own,' and reiterated that 'the end doesn’t justify the means' regarding U.S. foreign interventions.
📊 Relevant Data
In the 2024 presidential election, Arab American voters in Michigan shifted significantly toward Donald Trump, with Trump gaining around 6,000 additional votes in Dearborn compared to 2020, driven by dissatisfaction with Democratic policies on Gaza.
Analysis of election results in Arab American majority cities — The Arab American News
As of February 2026, 41% of Americans sympathize more with Palestinians in the Israel-Palestine conflict, compared to 36% with Israelis, marking a shift from previous years, with 57% favoring an independent Palestinian state.
Israelis No Longer Ahead in Americans' Middle East Sympathies — Gallup
Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 70% view the Palestinian people favorably, compared to 37% of Republicans and GOP leaners, as of October 2025.
How Americans View the Israel-Hamas Conflict 2 Years Into the War — Pew Research Center
U.S. gas prices have risen to an average of $4.11 per gallon as of March 2026, up 38% since the start of the U.S.-Iran conflict.
How High Could Gas Prices Go? What to Know About Surging Costs Amid the Iran War — TIME
The first six days of the U.S.-Iran war in 2026 cost approximately $11.3 billion, with daily costs exceeding $1 billion.
Iran War Cost Estimate Update: $11.3 Billion at Day 6, $16.5 Billion at Day 12 — Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
As of February 2026, 77% of Democrats disapprove of the work of ICE, compared to 59% of independents and a majority of Republicans who approve.
New Marquette Law School national survey finds 60% disapprove of the work of ICE, with Democrats and independents opposed to ICE and Republicans in favor — Marquette University
In a January 2026 poll for the Michigan Senate Democratic primary, Abdul El-Sayed trails with 18% support among likely Democratic voters, behind Mallory McMorrow at 24% and Haley Stevens at 23%.
Michigan 2026 Poll: Crowded Democratic Senate Primary Remains Wide Open — Emerson College Polling
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"A critical opinion piece arguing that Abdul El‑Sayed’s decision to campaign with controversial streamer Hasan Piker is politically risky, likely to alienate moderates and Jewish voters, and exemplifies a wider Democratic dilemma over using incendiary online influencers to energize the base."
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- El‑Sayed went on Fox News' 'Fox & Friends' and explicitly stated, 'Of course I oppose rape. Of course I don't think 9/11 was justified,' distancing himself from Hasan Piker’s past comments.
- He framed criticism of his appearance with Piker as 'cancel culture' and argued that candidates should be willing to 'go and talk to anyone anywhere' to earn votes.
- El‑Sayed offered a revised explanation of his earlier comment about people in Dearborn being 'sad' over Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, saying that 'all of us are sad today' because the Iran war is raising gas prices, costing U.S. service members’ lives, and consuming $1–2 billion a day in taxpayer funds.
- He described himself as 'no apologist for any regime, including our own,' and reiterated that 'the end doesn’t justify the means' regarding U.S. foreign interventions.