How many times will Mike Rogers and his campaign call on Abdul El-Sayed to disavow Hasan Piker?
As of September 20, 2026, we identified at least eleven distinct public appeals by Mike Rogers or his Senate campaign for Abdul El-Sayed to disavow or condemn Hasan Piker
Case period: to
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Since late August 2026, Mike Rogers and his Senate campaign have repeatedly called on Abdul El-Sayed to disavow or condemn Hasan Piker, making the demand a recurring line of attack in Michigan's Senate race. This case counts each distinct dated public appeal once, including direct demands that El-Sayed state whether he agrees with Piker's statements, and excluding cross-posts, news repetition, journalists' questions, demands from other speakers, and criticism that makes no new request. As of September 20, 2026, we have documented eleven such appeals; the count reflects documented occasions, not a claim that no others exist. El-Sayed has rejected specific Piker remarks while stopping short of a categorical break with Piker.
People in this case
Mike RogersDirectly involved
Abdul El-SayedDirectly involved
Hasan PikerDirectly involved
Timeline
23 timeline entries on this page. Dates: April 7, 2026 to September 21, 2026
April 2026
1 event
El-Sayed rejects Piker's 9/11 remark but declines a general disavowal
Reaction
On Fox & Friends, El-Sayed said he did not think the September 11 attacks were justified and that appearing with someone does not mean agreeing with everything they said. Asked later that day whether Piker held any views he would disavow, El-Sayed said he was 'not here to disavow people's views' and criticized 'platform policing.' The time of day is not established.
[01]PolitiFact: Mike Rogers falsely ties Abdul El-Sayed to Twitch streamer's 9/11 comments
Source excerpt
Of course I don’t think 9/11 was justified. Because you appear with somebody doesn’t mean you agree with him on everything.
PolitiFact fact-check rating false a Rogers claim tying El-Sayed to Piker's 9/11 remark. It quotes El-Sayed's Fox & Friends answer rejecting the remark and the Rogers campaign's reply, including spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet's statement that El-Sayed would not disavow Piker's comments when asked.
PolitiFact: Mike Rogers falsely ties Abdul El-Sayed to Twitch streamer's 9/11 commentsPassages quoting El-Sayed's Fox & Friends interview and the Rogers campaign's response[02]FactCheck.org: Rogers Makes False 9/11 Claim About El-Sayed
Source excerpt
I’m not here to disavow people’s views. I’m here to have a conversation about how to get money out of politics, put money back in pockets, and pass Medicare for all.
FactCheck.org article documenting that El-Sayed rejected Piker's 9/11 remark when asked directly, while quoting his April 7 refusal to offer a general disavowal of Piker's views and his August 5 CNN answer declining to renounce Piker. Updated August 11 with the Rogers campaign's response.
FactCheck.org: Rogers Makes False 9/11 Claim About El-SayedPassages on the April 7 campaign event and the August 5 CNN interview
120 days between recorded events
August 2026
9 events
El-Sayed declines to renounce Piker on CNN
Reaction
Asked by CNN's Kaitlan Collins whether he would renounce Piker, as Sen. John Fetterman had suggested, El-Sayed said he was less focused on who was campaigning with him than on whom he was campaigning to. He did not renounce Piker. The time of day is not established.
[02]FactCheck.org: Rogers Makes False 9/11 Claim About El-Sayed
Source excerpt
I’m not here to disavow people’s views. I’m here to have a conversation about how to get money out of politics, put money back in pockets, and pass Medicare for all.
FactCheck.org article documenting that El-Sayed rejected Piker's 9/11 remark when asked directly, while quoting his April 7 refusal to offer a general disavowal of Piker's views and his August 5 CNN answer declining to renounce Piker. Updated August 11 with the Rogers campaign's response.
FactCheck.org: Rogers Makes False 9/11 Claim About El-SayedPassages on the April 7 campaign event and the August 5 CNN interviewEl-Sayed disavows Piker's 9/11 remark on Meet the Press
Reaction
El-Sayed called Piker's 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11 'a dumb statement,' said Piker himself had disavowed it, and said America did not deserve 9/11. He declined to say whether he would keep campaigning with Piker. The time of day is not established.
[03]Meet the Press transcript: Kristen Welker interviews Abdul El-Sayed
Source excerpt
Of course. Of course. It was a dumb statement. And, of course, I think Hasan, himself, would say that was a dumb statement. He disavowed it. So yes. America didn’t deserve 9/11.
NBC's broadcast transcript of El-Sayed's first post-primary Sunday interview. El-Sayed disavowed Piker's 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11 while declining to say whether he would continue campaigning with Piker and criticizing what he called 'gotcha politics.'
Meet the Press transcript: Kristen Welker interviews Abdul El-SayedEl-Sayed segment, exchange beginning 'Do you agree? Do you disavow those comments'Rogers first calls for El-Sayed to disavow Piker
Reaction
In a post about Piker's remarks concerning American Jews and Jeremy Moss, Rogers said El-Sayed should disavow Piker. This is the first verified direct appeal in this count.
[04]Mike Rogers calls for El-Sayed to disavow Piker after August comments
Source excerpt
If Abdul El-Sayed had any courage at all, he would call this out and disavow Hasan Piker once and for all.
Rogers's own Senate-campaign account calls on El-Sayed to disavow Piker in response to Piker's remarks about American Jews and Jeremy Moss. The post's description of those remarks is Rogers's characterization, not a finding about Piker's intent.
Mike Rogers calls for El-Sayed to disavow Piker after August comments · Mike RogersFull X post; closing sentence beginning 'Absolutely DISGUSTING'El-Sayed says Piker does not speak for his campaign
Reaction
El-Sayed said only he and his spokespeople speak for his campaign and rejected rhetoric that put Jewish people at risk. He did not categorically disavow Piker in this statement. The time of day is not established.
[05]Abdul El-Sayed's statement about Piker and Jeremy Moss
Source excerpt
Nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople.
El-Sayed's original August 24 response to Piker's remarks about American Jews and Jeremy Moss. He says no one else speaks for his campaign, condemns antisemitism generally, and says his campaign will focus on policy. This response should be distinguished from a categorical disavowal of Piker as a person.
Abdul El-Sayed's statement about Piker and Jeremy Moss · Abdul El-SayedFull campaign statement dated August 24Rogers campaign issues a separate disavowal appeal
Reaction
Responding to El-Sayed's statement, the Rogers campaign published a new statement saying Piker's remarks must be condemned by every Michigan Democrat and faulting El-Sayed for not disavowing Piker. The time of day is not established.
[06]Rogers campaign response to El-Sayed's August 24 Piker statement
Source excerpt
Hasan Piker’s call for violence ... must be condemned by every single Michigan Democrat. But Conman Abdul El-Sayed doesn’t have the guts to disavow his running mate.
Official campaign release, dated August 24, responding to El-Sayed's same-day statement. Rogers says every Michigan Democrat must condemn the Piker remarks and directly faults El-Sayed for not disavowing Piker. This is a new response after Rogers's August 23 post, not a repost of that text. Allegations about Piker remain attributed to Rogers.
Rogers campaign response to El-Sayed's August 24 Piker statement · Mike RogersQuoted Rogers statement, paragraphs beginning 'Hasan Piker’s call' and 'But Conman Abdul El-Sayed'Rogers asks El-Sayed why he refuses to condemn Piker
Reaction
Rogers's Senate-campaign account posted a 56-second video and asked El-Sayed why he refuses to condemn Piker. The campaign posted the same video on Instagram; that cross-post is the same appeal.
[07]Mike Rogers asks El-Sayed 'Why do you refuse to condemn Hasan?'
Source excerpt
Abdul — you are who your friends are. Why do you refuse to condemn Hasan?
Rogers's Senate-campaign account presses El-Sayed to condemn Piker, posted with a 56-second campaign video. The post's description of Piker's remarks is Rogers's characterization, not a finding about those remarks. The campaign also posted the same video on Instagram; that cross-post is the same appeal.
Mike Rogers asks El-Sayed 'Why do you refuse to condemn Hasan?' · Mike RogersFull X post; closing question beginning 'Why do you refuse to condemn'El-Sayed says he has no plans to campaign with Piker again
Reaction
El-Sayed told Semafor he had 'no plans' to campaign with Piker again and described the focus on the streamer as a distraction from issues facing Michigan voters. The interview was published the evening of August 26; the time of the conversation is not established.
[08]Semafor: El-Sayed says 'no plans' to campaign with Piker
Source excerpt
El-Sayed told Semafor he had “no plans” to campaign with Piker again.
Semafor exclusive interview published the evening of August 26, 2026 (ET), in which El-Sayed put distance between his campaign and Piker after Piker's remarks about American Jews, saying he had no plans to campaign with him again.
Semafor: El-Sayed says 'no plans' to campaign with PikerEl-Sayed's answer on future campaign appearances with PikerEl-Sayed frames Piker criticism as 'cancel culture' on The Breakfast Club
Reaction
El-Sayed said there was a 'massive effort to cancel Hasan' and argued the question should be whether one agrees with what a person said, not 'where are you on this one individual.' The interview aired in late August; the exact date and time are not established.
[09]WFMD: El-Sayed tries to put the Hasan Piker debate behind him as midterms approach
Source excerpt
I think we’ve got to stop with the cancel culture. It’s not about, like, ‘Where are you on this one individual?’ It’s more, ‘Do you agree or disagree with the thing that the person said?’
WFMD report quoting El-Sayed's late-August appearance on The Breakfast Club, in which he described a 'massive effort to cancel Hasan' and argued that a person cannot be reduced to a single soundbite. The exact air date of the interview is not established in the report.
WFMD: El-Sayed tries to put the Hasan Piker debate behind him as midterms approachPassage quoting El-Sayed's late-August Breakfast Club appearanceEl-Sayed declines to engage Piker questions after Jewish caucus event
Reaction
Asked repeatedly by reporters about Piker after an appearance before a Jewish caucus, El-Sayed would not engage, saying that making the race 'about a streamer in California' missed the boat and that he was 'not interested in a conversation about a social media person in California.' The time of day is not established.
[10]Axios: El-Sayed courts Jewish Democrats but won't dump Piker
Source excerpt
If you want to make this race about a streamer in California, I just think you're missing the boat.
Axios report on El-Sayed's August 29 appearance before a Jewish caucus, where he apologized for his March comments about a synagogue attack and, asked repeatedly about Piker, declined to engage. The piece also attributes El-Sayed's 'in what fucking world does the world work this way' remark about condemning Piker to April.
Axios: El-Sayed courts Jewish Democrats but won't dump PikerPassage beginning 'Asked repeatedly by reporters Saturday about Piker'
September 2026
13 events
El-Sayed defends engaging Piker's audience while noting disagreements
Reaction
In an interview with Stephen A. Smith, El-Sayed said he did not want to reject Piker's roughly three million listeners and reiterated that he did not agree with everything Piker said. The time of day is not established.
[11]Forbes: El-Sayed Says He Doesn't Want To Alienate Hasan Piker's Listeners As He Explains Why He Won't Condemn Him
Source excerpt
El-Sayed said he did not want to reject Piker's audience, arguing that speaking with Piker lets him reach roughly three million listeners.
Forbes report on El-Sayed's interview with Stephen A. Smith, in which he defended engaging Piker's audience while maintaining disagreement with some of Piker's statements, and noted his earlier comment to Semafor that he had no plans to campaign with Piker again.
Forbes: El-Sayed Says He Doesn't Want To Alienate Hasan Piker's Listeners As He Explains Why He Won't Condemn HimPassages on the Stephen A. Smith interviewWar room account presses El-Sayed to answer for not condemning Piker
Reaction
Quote-posting the campaign's tribute to a Ground Zero responder who later developed cancer, the campaign's RFSWarRoom account asked whether El-Sayed would tell the responder why he 'won't condemn Piker.'
[12]RFS War Room asks El-Sayed to tell a 9/11 responder why he won't condemn Piker
Source excerpt
Will you tell Captain Nadeau why you won’t condemn Piker, @AbdulElSayed?
The Rogers campaign's rapid-response account RFSWarRoom quote-posts the campaign's tribute to Ground Zero responder Captain David Nadeau and challenges El-Sayed to answer for not condemning Piker. The post's framing of Piker's 9/11 remark is the campaign's characterization, not a finding about that remark.
RFS War Room asks El-Sayed to tell a 9/11 responder why he won't condemn PikerFull X post; closing question beginning 'Will you tell Captain Nadeau'Rogers again tells El-Sayed to disavow Piker
Reaction
In an exchange about 9/11 responder health care, Rogers told El-Sayed to disavow Piker. The post was made September 10 in Michigan, September 11 UTC.
[13]Mike Rogers tells El-Sayed to disavow Piker in September 10 exchange
Source excerpt
Disavow Hasan Piker before you come at me about “shame.”
Rogers's campaign account responds to El-Sayed's criticism of his 9/11 responder health-care votes and explicitly asks him to disavow Piker. The UTC timestamp falls on September 11; the post was made September 10 in Michigan. El-Sayed later quote-replied to this post.
Mike Rogers tells El-Sayed to disavow Piker in September 10 exchange · Mike RogersFull X post, posted September 10 at 10:01 p.m. Eastern / September 11 at 02:01 UTCEl-Sayed posts September 11 remembrance
Reaction
El-Sayed wrote that 'nothing can justify the murder of innocent civilians' in a September 11 remembrance post. The post did not mention Piker; it was covered alongside renewed scrutiny of Piker's 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11. The time of day is not established.
[14]TNND: Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces backlash over Hasan Piker ties, 9/11 stance
Source excerpt
Today on 9/11, we remember and honor the lives that were taken from us in a terrible act of terrorism. Nothing can justify the murder of innocent civilians. Nothing.
The National News Desk report quoting El-Sayed's September 11, 2026 remembrance post, which did not mention Piker but was covered alongside renewed scrutiny of Piker's 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11.
TNND: Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces backlash over Hasan Piker ties, 9/11 stancePassage quoting El-Sayed's September 11 social media postSpokesperson Brouillet asks whether El-Sayed will disavow Piker
Reaction
Quote-posting Sen. Elissa Slotkin's condemnation call, Rogers campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet said it was now 'Abdul's turn' and asked whether El-Sayed would disavow Piker.
[15]Alyssa Brouillet asks whether El-Sayed will disavow Piker
Source excerpt
Now, it’s Abdul’s turn. Will he disavow his running mate, Hasan Piker, who believes “America deserved 9/11?”
Rogers campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet quote-posts Sen. Elissa Slotkin's call to condemn a crowd member's remark and presses El-Sayed to disavow Piker. Her description of Piker's view is the campaign's characterization, not a finding about Piker's position.
Alyssa Brouillet asks whether El-Sayed will disavow PikerFull X post; closing question beginning 'Will he disavow his running mate'El-Sayed declines to say why he has not called out Piker's rhetoric directly
Reaction
Asked on Face the Nation why he had condemned antisemitism without calling out Piker's rhetoric directly, El-Sayed did not answer, saying he was not interested in discussing 'a Twitch streamer in California' and redirecting to economic issues in Michigan.
[16]CBS News transcript: Abdul El-Sayed on 'Face the Nation,' Sept. 13, 2026
Source excerpt
They want to make this about a streamer in California. I want to make this about affordability in Michigan.
CBS's transcript of El-Sayed's Face the Nation interview. Asked why he had not called out Piker's rhetoric directly, El-Sayed declined to engage the question, calling it a distraction and redirecting to economic issues in Michigan.
CBS News transcript: Abdul El-Sayed on 'Face the Nation,' Sept. 13, 2026Exchange beginning 'You have condemned antisemitism, but not called out his rhetoric directly'El-Sayed disavows specific Piker comments at debate
Reaction
At a televised September 15 Detroit forum, El-Sayed said he disavowed Piker's comments about Jewish Americans. The exact time of the answer is not established.
[17]Michigan Senate debate: Abdul El-Sayed on Hasan Piker
Source excerpt
Absolutely… when Hasan made these comments about Jewish Americans and Jewish Michiganders, I disavowed them entirely.
Televised FOX2 Michigan U.S. Senate debate video documenting El-Sayed’s direct disavowal of Piker’s comments.
Michigan Senate debate: Abdul El-Sayed on Hasan PikerDebate response about Hasan Piker; broadcast September 15, 2026El-Sayed rejects Piker's al-Qaeda comparison
Reaction
In a statement to Axios on Wednesday, September 16, El-Sayed said he did not agree with Piker's comparison of U.S. and al-Qaeda terrorism. The exact time is not established.
[18]Axios: "Hasan Piker on 'The Axios Show': America worse than al-Qaeda 'pound for pound'"
Source excerpt
Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes.
Axios write-up of an exclusive interview with Hasan Piker for a new episode of "The Axios Show," datelined Los Angeles and published September 17, 2026. Asked whether America commits more terrorism than the organization behind the September 11 attacks, Piker answered "Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes" and added "We have caused tremendous terror all around the world." The piece's "why it matters" section ties the remarks to Republican attacks in the Michigan Senate race after Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed had Piker campaign for him in the primary. The published article is brief; fuller quotation from the same interview is carried in TheWrap's report.
Rogers calls on El-Sayed to condemn Piker after Axios interview
Reaction
Responding to Piker's al-Qaeda comparison, Rogers told El-Sayed to condemn Piker once and for all.
[19]Mike Rogers post calling on El-Sayed to condemn Piker
Source excerpt
BREAKING: Conman @AbdulElSayed's running mate Hasan Piker just said that America is worse than Al-Qaeda.
Mike Rogers's own post from his Senate campaign account on 17 September 2026, responding to Piker's Axios interview the same day. Secondary reporting consistently quotes only the first sentence and renders the live handle as "[Abdul El-Sayed's]"; the post continues "Abdul — enough is enough. Condemn Piker once and for all," which is the actual demand. X blocks automated retrieval of post pages, so authorship, date and text were confirmed through X's own embed endpoint; an editor should open the post before publication. This is distinct from Rogers's 10 September remarks at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, which predate the interview and belong to the separate dossier on his September 11 accusation.
Campaign spokesperson Brouillet presses El-Sayed to disavow Piker
Reaction
Quote-posting the campaign's earlier September 17 appeal, Rogers campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet asked what would cross the line for El-Sayed to publicly disavow Piker.
[20]Alyssa Brouillet asks El-Sayed what would cross the line for disavowing Piker
Source excerpt
So, if this doesn’t cross the line for you to publicly disavow Hasan, what does, @AbdulElSayed?
Rogers campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet quote-posts the campaign's September 17 appeal and adds her own demand that El-Sayed publicly disavow Piker. The quoted post's description of Piker's al-Qaeda comparison is the campaign's characterization, not a finding about those remarks.
Alyssa Brouillet asks El-Sayed what would cross the line for disavowing PikerFull X post; closing question beginning 'So, if this doesn't cross the line'War room account demands El-Sayed say whether he agrees with Piker
Reaction
Quote-posting Rahm Emanuel's criticism of Piker's Axios-interview statements, the campaign's RFSWarRoom account asked El-Sayed directly: 'agree or disagree?'
[21]RFS War Room asks El-Sayed 'agree or disagree?' on Piker's statements
Source excerpt
.@AbdulElSayed -- agree or disagree?
The Rogers campaign's rapid-response account RFSWarRoom quote-posts Rahm Emanuel's criticism of Piker's Axios-interview statements and demands that El-Sayed say whether he agrees or disagrees with them. Emanuel's descriptions of Piker's positions are his characterizations, not findings about those remarks.
RFS War Room asks El-Sayed 'agree or disagree?' on Piker's statementsFull X post; closing question 'agree or disagree?'Rogers renews demand that El-Sayed disavow Piker
Reaction
Rogers said El-Sayed should apologize to Rep. Haley Stevens, condemn rhetoric from a supporter, and disavow Piker. The post was made September 19 in Michigan, September 20 UTC.
[22]Mike Rogers calls on Abdul El-Sayed to disavow Hasan Piker
Source excerpt
“Abdul should apologize to Congresswoman Stevens immediately, condemn this unacceptable rhetoric coming from his supporter, and disavow Hasan Piker.”
Rogers said Abdul El-Sayed had invited “dangerous rhetoric” by campaigning with Hasan Piker and called for an apology to Rep. Stevens, condemnation of supporter rhetoric, and a disavowal of Piker. The post supplies Rogers’s campaign position; it does not independently establish the conduct or rhetoric to which he refers and does not repeat the earlier allegation that El-Sayed believed America deserved the September 11 attacks.
Mike Rogers calls on Abdul El-Sayed to disavow Hasan Piker · Mike RogersX post published September 20, 2026, at 02:10:32 UTC.Rogers again presses El-Sayed to disavow Piker
Reaction
Quote-posting a clip of Piker's remarks about Rep. Haley Stevens, Rogers's campaign account asked how many 'unconscionable things' Piker must do before El-Sayed will disavow him. The post was made September 20 in Michigan, September 21 UTC.
[23]Mike Rogers asks how much Piker must do 'before Abdul El-Sayed will disavow him'
Source excerpt
How many unconscionable things does Hasan have to do before @AbdulElSayed will disavow him?
Rogers's Senate-campaign account quote-posts a clip of Piker's remarks about Rep. Haley Stevens and presses El-Sayed to disavow him. Posted September 20 in Michigan time; the platform timestamp is September 21 in UTC. The post's description of Piker's remarks about Stevens is Rogers's characterization, not a finding about those remarks.
Mike Rogers asks how much Piker must do 'before Abdul El-Sayed will disavow him' · Mike RogersFull X post; second paragraph beginning 'How many unconscionable things'
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Original post
Mike Rogers calls for El-Sayed to disavow Piker after August comments
Excerpt
"If Abdul El-Sayed had any courage at all, he would call this out and disavow Hasan Piker once and for all."
About this source
Rogers's own Senate-campaign account calls on El-Sayed to disavow Piker in response to Piker's remarks about American Jews and Jeremy Moss. The post's description of those remarks is Rogers's characterization, not a finding about Piker's intent.
- Author
- Mike Rogers
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
WFMD: El-Sayed tries to put the Hasan Piker debate behind him as midterms approach
Relevant passage: Passage quoting El-Sayed's late-August Breakfast Club appearance
Excerpt
"I think we’ve got to stop with the cancel culture. It’s not about, like, ‘Where are you on this one individual?’ It’s more, ‘Do you agree or disagree with the thing that the person said?’"
About this source
WFMD report quoting El-Sayed's late-August appearance on The Breakfast Club, in which he described a 'massive effort to cancel Hasan' and argued that a person cannot be reduced to a single soundbite. The exact air date of the interview is not established in the report.
- Author
- WFMD
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Axios: El-Sayed courts Jewish Democrats but won't dump Piker
Relevant passage: Passage beginning 'Asked repeatedly by reporters Saturday about Piker'
Excerpt
"If you want to make this race about a streamer in California, I just think you're missing the boat."
About this source
Axios report on El-Sayed's August 29 appearance before a Jewish caucus, where he apologized for his March comments about a synagogue attack and, asked repeatedly about Piker, declined to engage. The piece also attributes El-Sayed's 'in what fucking world does the world work this way' remark about condemning Piker to April.
- Author
- Axios
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
RFS War Room asks El-Sayed 'agree or disagree?' on Piker's statements
Excerpt
".@AbdulElSayed -- agree or disagree?"
About this source
The Rogers campaign's rapid-response account RFSWarRoom quote-posts Rahm Emanuel's criticism of Piker's Axios-interview statements and demands that El-Sayed say whether he agrees or disagrees with them. Emanuel's descriptions of Piker's positions are his characterizations, not findings about those remarks.
- Author
- Mike Rogers War Room
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
RFS War Room asks El-Sayed to tell a 9/11 responder why he won't condemn Piker
Excerpt
"Will you tell Captain Nadeau why you won’t condemn Piker, @AbdulElSayed?"
About this source
The Rogers campaign's rapid-response account RFSWarRoom quote-posts the campaign's tribute to Ground Zero responder Captain David Nadeau and challenges El-Sayed to answer for not condemning Piker. The post's framing of Piker's 9/11 remark is the campaign's characterization, not a finding about that remark.
- Author
- Mike Rogers War Room
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
CBS News transcript: Abdul El-Sayed on 'Face the Nation,' Sept. 13, 2026
Relevant passage: Exchange beginning 'You have condemned antisemitism, but not called out his rhetoric directly'
Excerpt
"They want to make this about a streamer in California. I want to make this about affordability in Michigan."
About this source
CBS's transcript of El-Sayed's Face the Nation interview. Asked why he had not called out Piker's rhetoric directly, El-Sayed declined to engage the question, calling it a distraction and redirecting to economic issues in Michigan.
- Author
- CBS News
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
TNND: Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces backlash over Hasan Piker ties, 9/11 stance
Relevant passage: Passage quoting El-Sayed's September 11 social media post
Excerpt
"Today on 9/11, we remember and honor the lives that were taken from us in a terrible act of terrorism. Nothing can justify the murder of innocent civilians. Nothing."
About this source
The National News Desk report quoting El-Sayed's September 11, 2026 remembrance post, which did not mention Piker but was covered alongside renewed scrutiny of Piker's 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11.
- Author
- The National News Desk
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Forbes: El-Sayed Says He Doesn't Want To Alienate Hasan Piker's Listeners As He Explains Why He Won't Condemn Him
Relevant passage: Passages on the Stephen A. Smith interview
Excerpt
"El-Sayed said he did not want to reject Piker's audience, arguing that speaking with Piker lets him reach roughly three million listeners."
About this source
Forbes report on El-Sayed's interview with Stephen A. Smith, in which he defended engaging Piker's audience while maintaining disagreement with some of Piker's statements, and noted his earlier comment to Semafor that he had no plans to campaign with Piker again.
- Author
- Sara Dorn
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
Semafor: El-Sayed says 'no plans' to campaign with Piker
Relevant passage: El-Sayed's answer on future campaign appearances with Piker
Excerpt
"El-Sayed told Semafor he had “no plans” to campaign with Piker again."
About this source
Semafor exclusive interview published the evening of August 26, 2026 (ET), in which El-Sayed put distance between his campaign and Piker after Piker's remarks about American Jews, saying he had no plans to campaign with him again.
- Author
- Nicholas Wu
- Published
- Accessed
Interview
Meet the Press transcript: Kristen Welker interviews Abdul El-Sayed
Relevant passage: El-Sayed segment, exchange beginning 'Do you agree? Do you disavow those comments'
Excerpt
"Of course. Of course. It was a dumb statement. And, of course, I think Hasan, himself, would say that was a dumb statement. He disavowed it. So yes. America didn’t deserve 9/11."
About this source
NBC's broadcast transcript of El-Sayed's first post-primary Sunday interview. El-Sayed disavowed Piker's 2019 remark that America deserved 9/11 while declining to say whether he would continue campaigning with Piker and criticizing what he called 'gotcha politics.'
- Author
- NBC News
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
FactCheck.org: Rogers Makes False 9/11 Claim About El-Sayed
Relevant passage: Passages on the April 7 campaign event and the August 5 CNN interview
Excerpt
"I’m not here to disavow people’s views. I’m here to have a conversation about how to get money out of politics, put money back in pockets, and pass Medicare for all."
About this source
FactCheck.org article documenting that El-Sayed rejected Piker's 9/11 remark when asked directly, while quoting his April 7 refusal to offer a general disavowal of Piker's views and his August 5 CNN answer declining to renounce Piker. Updated August 11 with the Rogers campaign's response.
- Author
- D'Angelo Gore
- Published
- Accessed
Analysis
PolitiFact: Mike Rogers falsely ties Abdul El-Sayed to Twitch streamer's 9/11 comments
Relevant passage: Passages quoting El-Sayed's Fox & Friends interview and the Rogers campaign's response
Excerpt
"Of course I don’t think 9/11 was justified. Because you appear with somebody doesn’t mean you agree with him on everything."
About this source
PolitiFact fact-check rating false a Rogers claim tying El-Sayed to Piker's 9/11 remark. It quotes El-Sayed's Fox & Friends answer rejecting the remark and the Rogers campaign's reply, including spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet's statement that El-Sayed would not disavow Piker's comments when asked.
- Author
- PolitiFact
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Alyssa Brouillet asks whether El-Sayed will disavow Piker
Excerpt
"Now, it’s Abdul’s turn. Will he disavow his running mate, Hasan Piker, who believes “America deserved 9/11?”"
About this source
Rogers campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet quote-posts Sen. Elissa Slotkin's call to condemn a crowd member's remark and presses El-Sayed to disavow Piker. Her description of Piker's view is the campaign's characterization, not a finding about Piker's position.
- Author
- Alyssa Brouillet
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- Accessed
Original post
Alyssa Brouillet asks El-Sayed what would cross the line for disavowing Piker
Excerpt
"So, if this doesn’t cross the line for you to publicly disavow Hasan, what does, @AbdulElSayed?"
About this source
Rogers campaign spokesperson Alyssa Brouillet quote-posts the campaign's September 17 appeal and adds her own demand that El-Sayed publicly disavow Piker. The quoted post's description of Piker's al-Qaeda comparison is the campaign's characterization, not a finding about those remarks.
- Author
- Alyssa Brouillet
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- Accessed
Original post
Mike Rogers asks how much Piker must do 'before Abdul El-Sayed will disavow him'
Excerpt
"How many unconscionable things does Hasan have to do before @AbdulElSayed will disavow him?"
About this source
Rogers's Senate-campaign account quote-posts a clip of Piker's remarks about Rep. Haley Stevens and presses El-Sayed to disavow him. Posted September 20 in Michigan time; the platform timestamp is September 21 in UTC. The post's description of Piker's remarks about Stevens is Rogers's characterization, not a finding about those remarks.
- Author
- Mike Rogers
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Original post
Mike Rogers asks El-Sayed 'Why do you refuse to condemn Hasan?'
Excerpt
"Abdul — you are who your friends are. Why do you refuse to condemn Hasan?"
About this source
Rogers's Senate-campaign account presses El-Sayed to condemn Piker, posted with a 56-second campaign video. The post's description of Piker's remarks is Rogers's characterization, not a finding about those remarks. The campaign also posted the same video on Instagram; that cross-post is the same appeal.
- Author
- Mike Rogers
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Official statement
Abdul El-Sayed's statement about Piker and Jeremy Moss
Relevant passage: Full campaign statement dated August 24
Excerpt
"Nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople."
About this source
El-Sayed's original August 24 response to Piker's remarks about American Jews and Jeremy Moss. He says no one else speaks for his campaign, condemns antisemitism generally, and says his campaign will focus on policy. This response should be distinguished from a categorical disavowal of Piker as a person.
- Author
- Abdul El-Sayed
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Original post
Mike Rogers tells El-Sayed to disavow Piker in September 10 exchange
Excerpt
"Disavow Hasan Piker before you come at me about “shame.”"
About this source
Rogers's campaign account responds to El-Sayed's criticism of his 9/11 responder health-care votes and explicitly asks him to disavow Piker. The UTC timestamp falls on September 11; the post was made September 10 in Michigan. El-Sayed later quote-replied to this post.
- Author
- Mike Rogers
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- Accessed
Official statement
Rogers campaign response to El-Sayed's August 24 Piker statement
Relevant passage: Quoted Rogers statement, paragraphs beginning 'Hasan Piker’s call' and 'But Conman Abdul El-Sayed'
Excerpt
"Hasan Piker’s call for violence ... must be condemned by every single Michigan Democrat. But Conman Abdul El-Sayed doesn’t have the guts to disavow his running mate."
About this source
Official campaign release, dated August 24, responding to El-Sayed's same-day statement. Rogers says every Michigan Democrat must condemn the Piker remarks and directly faults El-Sayed for not disavowing Piker. This is a new response after Rogers's August 23 post, not a repost of that text. Allegations about Piker remain attributed to Rogers.
- Author
- Mike Rogers; posted by Hinson Peed for Rogers for Senate
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Original post
Mike Rogers calls on Abdul El-Sayed to disavow Hasan Piker
Excerpt
"“Abdul should apologize to Congresswoman Stevens immediately, condemn this unacceptable rhetoric coming from his supporter, and disavow Hasan Piker.”"
About this source
Rogers said Abdul El-Sayed had invited “dangerous rhetoric” by campaigning with Hasan Piker and called for an apology to Rep. Stevens, condemnation of supporter rhetoric, and a disavowal of Piker. The post supplies Rogers’s campaign position; it does not independently establish the conduct or rhetoric to which he refers and does not repeat the earlier allegation that El-Sayed believed America deserved the September 11 attacks.
- Author
- Mike Rogers
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Original video
Michigan Senate debate: Abdul El-Sayed on Hasan Piker
Relevant passage: Debate response about Hasan Piker; broadcast September 15, 2026
Excerpt
"Absolutely… when Hasan made these comments about Jewish Americans and Jewish Michiganders, I disavowed them entirely."
About this source
Televised FOX2 Michigan U.S. Senate debate video documenting El-Sayed’s direct disavowal of Piker’s comments.
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Interview
Axios: "Hasan Piker on 'The Axios Show': America worse than al-Qaeda 'pound for pound'"
Excerpt
"Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes."
About this source
Axios write-up of an exclusive interview with Hasan Piker for a new episode of "The Axios Show," datelined Los Angeles and published September 17, 2026. Asked whether America commits more terrorism than the organization behind the September 11 attacks, Piker answered "Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes" and added "We have caused tremendous terror all around the world." The piece's "why it matters" section ties the remarks to Republican attacks in the Michigan Senate race after Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed had Piker campaign for him in the primary. The published article is brief; fuller quotation from the same interview is carried in TheWrap's report.
- Author
- Alex Thompson
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- Accessed
Original post
Mike Rogers post calling on El-Sayed to condemn Piker
Excerpt
"BREAKING: Conman @AbdulElSayed's running mate Hasan Piker just said that America is worse than Al-Qaeda."
About this source
Mike Rogers's own post from his Senate campaign account on 17 September 2026, responding to Piker's Axios interview the same day. Secondary reporting consistently quotes only the first sentence and renders the live handle as "[Abdul El-Sayed's]"; the post continues "Abdul — enough is enough. Condemn Piker once and for all," which is the actual demand. X blocks automated retrieval of post pages, so authorship, date and text were confirmed through X's own embed endpoint; an editor should open the post before publication. This is distinct from Rogers's 10 September remarks at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, which predate the interview and belong to the separate dossier on his September 11 accusation.
- Author
- Mike Rogers
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Corrections
(0)
Corrections address errors in our reporting or labels. When a speaker changes their position, we add a separate statement and link it to the earlier one.
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