Dr. Abdul El‑Sayed, Michigan's Democratic Senate hopeful, on Sunday called Hasan Piker's remark that "America deserved 9/11" "dumb" and noted Piker has disavowed the comment. El‑Sayed said he wants to be held accountable for his own words rather than be subjected to "gotcha" politics — a stance that contrasts with his earlier reluctance to denounce Piker. The controversy has drawn bipartisan criticism and intensified scrutiny of El‑Sayed's Muslim faith and his positions on Israel, Gaza and foreign aid.
El‑Sayed Rejects Piker’s 'America Deserved 9/11' Remark, Calls For Accountability Over 'Gotcha' Politics
Abdul El-Sayed disavows Hasan Piker’s 9/11 comments
Michigan Senate candidate Dr. Abdul El‑Sayed on Sunday publicly rejected comments made by left‑leaning streamer Hasan Piker suggesting "America deserved 9/11," calling the remark "dumb" and noting that Piker has since disavowed it.
Speaking on NBC's Meet the Press, El‑Sayed sought to draw a distinction between condemning the remark and engaging in what he described as "gotcha politics." He said he prefers to be judged on his own words and actions rather than on statements made by others that were later recanted.
"Of course it was a dumb statement and of course I think Hasan himself would say that was a dumb statement," El‑Sayed said. "He disavowed it. So yes, America didn't deserve 9/11, but you know, to sit here and play gotcha politics with a dumb thing somebody said out of context that they disavowed themselves — to say, 'oh well, what does that mean about what you think?' I want to be held accountable for what I say and what I do..."
The comment represents a clearer stance than earlier this year, when El‑Sayed told POLITICO he was "not here to disavow people's views," calling such questioning part of a "gotcha game" and rejecting what he described as cancel‑culture tactics.
Political Fallout
El‑Sayed declined to commit to ending campaign appearances with Piker, telling NBC's Kristen Welker he was "less concerned now with who I'm campaigning with and a lot more concerned about who I'm campaigning to." The association with Piker has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum.
Michael LaRosa, press secretary to former first lady Jill Biden, criticized anyone seen as unwilling to denounce Piker's remark, referencing a 9/11 victim who jumped from a World Trade Center tower. LaRosa's post signaled the depth of political sensitivity around the comments.
Faith And Campaign Focus
El‑Sayed's Muslim faith has become a focal point in the race: if elected, he would be the first Muslim senator from Michigan. President Donald Trump highlighted El‑Sayed and his wife — who wears a hijab — in a Truth Social post that contrasted them with the Trumps and captioned the images "Two very different Americas." El‑Sayed told CNN he agreed that the post captured two different visions of the country.
"Yeah, he's right. One in which your overlords are two people who don't like each other but joined in the interest of making billions of dollars off of you or two people who genuinely love each other..."
Foreign Policy Positions
Trump has also accused El‑Sayed of "hating" Israel and Jewish people — an allegation El‑Sayed strongly denies. On NBC, El‑Sayed said, "I love and revere Judaism and the Jewish people. I believe they are a light unto the world." He added that support for Jewish people is not the same as support for the policies of AIPAC or the government of Israel.
El‑Sayed has criticized Israeli actions in Gaza, calling them a "genocide," and has said he would not back additional unconditional military aid to Israel if elected. By contrast, he indicated conditional support for further U.S. assistance to Ukraine, emphasizing the different circumstances in each conflict.
"In Ukraine, you're talking about attacks from a leader of a neighboring sovereign country, who clearly violated international law..." El‑Sayed told NBC. "We have been offering unconditional foreign military aid to Israel, independent of the circumstances, for years and years and years... That's the difference. It's about the conditions."
This episode underscores how El‑Sayed's alliances, faith and foreign‑policy views have become key talking points as he seeks to broaden his appeal in a competitive Senate contest.
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