Sen. Ted Cruz called Hasan Piker a radicalizing influence in the Democratic Party, citing remarks on communism, Mao and 9/11. Piker campaigned with Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who says he disagrees with Piker and has no plans to campaign with him again this fall.
On Cruz’s program, clips showed Piker saying he wanted “Chinese style communism” in the Democratic Party and calling Mao “one of the great leaders of this world,” while acknowledging there had been “a lot” of excesses under Mao. Piker later said his 2019 remark that “America deserved 9/11” was inappropriate and did not mean the attacks were justified.
El-Sayed’s relationship with Piker has become a point of dispute among Democrats. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other lawmakers condemned Piker’s recent comments about American Jews; Rep. Hillary Scholten also criticized him while withholding an endorsement of El-Sayed. Cruz said the controversy reflects a wider fight over the party’s direction. Democrats who have criticized Piker say his views do not represent the party as a whole.
