Rahm Emanuel
Role at the time: Former mayor of Chicago and former U.S. ambassador to Japan
Statement summary
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Hasan Piker's "pound for pound" comment was "a ridiculous statement on a normal day, but particularly vile" in the week of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. He said on X that everyone is free to express opinions "however dumb or immoral," and that the rest of us are free to call out "this vile, hateful speech that only divides America."
“a ridiculous statement on a normal day, but particularly vile the same week we’re reflecting on the loss of 3,000 Americans on the 25th anniversary of 9/11. The great thing about America is that everyone is entitled to their opinions and free to express them, however dumb or immoral, That includes ‘Comrade’ Piker. The rest of us are just as free — obligated even — to call out this vile, hateful speech that only divides America.”
Chicago Tribune report, published September 20, 2026 and updated that evening, on how Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel each responded to Hasan Piker's remarks. Emanuel's words are quoted as the Tribune reports them.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The reference point is Piker's claims in the Axios interview, including that the United States commits more terrorism than al-Qaida "pound for pound." Emanuel calls that comment "a ridiculous statement" that was "particularly vile" in the week of the 9/11 anniversary, and says others are free to call out Piker's "vile, hateful speech." That rejects the claim outright, so we labeled it Condemned.