Hasan Piker told The Axios Show he would "absolutely" campaign for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez if she runs for president in 2028 and said he has spoken with figures including Sen. Bernie Sanders. The comments come as Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed and others publicly distance themselves following Piker's prior controversial statements about U.S. actions abroad. Piker framed his role as mobilizing younger voters, while critics warn his streamer style can create political headaches for candidates he supports.
Hasan Piker: "I'd Absolutely Campaign for AOC in 2028" — El‑Sayed Distances Himself After Controversial Remarks
Streamer and creator Hasan Piker speaks at a news conference at the Web Summit Vancouver at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, Canada May 13, 2026.
Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker told The Axios Show he would "absolutely" campaign for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez if she launches a 2028 presidential bid, remarks that come as some Democrats publicly distance themselves from Piker following past inflammatory comments.
Speaking in a taped interview in Los Angeles, Piker said he is willing to serve as a campaign surrogate for Ocasio‑Cortez and suggested that internal conversations within the Democratic Party often differ from public messaging.
"Oh, absolutely. Yes," Piker said when asked point‑blank whether he would campaign for Ocasio‑Cortez in 2028. He also said he has been in contact with Sen. Bernie Sanders and other elected officials who may not be immediately identified as allies of democratic socialists.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., departs after a vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., July 22, 2026.
El‑Sayed and Other Democrats Respond
Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El‑Sayed and his campaign publicly distanced themselves from Piker after renewed scrutiny of the streamer's previous statements. When asked whether Piker had been invited to campaign in Michigan, Piker said he had not been explicitly told to stay away and added, "If my services are needed, I'll go wherever." He warned, however, that stumping for a campaign very close to the midterms could create "real deep problems."
Piker described his role as a mobilizer of younger voters: "My job isn't to get 65‑plus‑year‑olds out to vote for the Democratic candidate. My job is to get under‑45‑year‑old, college‑educated and non‑college‑educated men to come out and participate."
Controversial Comments and Backlash
The interview reignited debate after Alex Thompson of Axios referenced Piker's earlier statement that "America is the top dog in terrorism" and asked whether Piker believed the U.S. was worse than al‑Qaeda. Piker replied, "Pound for pound, as far as the number of deaths, yes," arguing the United States has caused "tremendous terror all around the world" with consequences at home.
Streamer Hasan Piker, left, and Abdul El-Sayed, right, take a selfie with young fans after a campaign event April 7, 2026, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich.
He cited a strike in Minab, Iran — referring to an incident earlier this year — saying, "There's no distinction between blowing up a school, triple‑tapping it with Tomahawk missiles. If you're killing 140 schoolgirls, that is an act of terror." Piker referenced a United Nations fact‑finding mission that reported it found "reasonable grounds to believe" U.S. responsibility for the strike and described it as an indiscriminate attack.
El‑Sayed's campaign condemned Piker's remarks in statements to Axios and Fox News Digital: "I do not agree with this statement [on al‑Qaeda], nor do I give much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer," the campaign said, adding that its focus remains on policy issues such as rising costs for gas, groceries and healthcare.
Broader Debate: Streamers and Electoral Politics
Observers say the episode highlights tensions at the intersection of influencer culture and electoral politics: Piker seeks to be treated as a serious political force while maintaining the candid, sensational style that fuels his streaming audience. Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin previously described some of Piker's rhetoric as an "irrelevant distraction."
Kaivan Shroff, a media commentator and former digital organizer, told Fox News Digital that Piker wants his electoral influence recognized but resists accountability for the fallout from provocative remarks. "You can't claim credit for helping politicians win and then treat the consequences of your own rhetoric as their problem," Shroff said, adding that public references to conversations with prominent figures can turn private relationships into political stories.
Fox News Digital said it reached out to representatives for Piker and Ocasio‑Cortez for comment. Peter D'Abrosca contributed reporting to earlier versions of this story.
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