Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed is seeking to distance his campaign from prominent supporter Hasan Piker following remarks by the controversial streamer that drew renewed criticism.
El-Sayed, who will face former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers in the November election, issued a statement Monday stressing that he alone speaks for his campaign.
“I want to be crystal clear, nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople," he said, as quoted by Fox News.
The statement followed comments Piker made during a livestream last week in which he displayed an image of state Sen. Jeremy Moss, the Democratic nominee in Michigan's 11th Congressional District. Moss, who is Jewish, has said a recording circulating online is fabricated and falsely portrays him as saying his sole reason for seeking Congress is to preserve American support for Israel.
“If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone is going to come around and take action, not against the state of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews," Piker warned.
Piker endorsed El-Sayed during the Democratic primary and has participated in several campaign events, including the candidate's primary night celebration in Detroit. He has also continued to defend previous statements criticizing Israel over its war against Hamas in Gaza.
El-Sayed said his campaign rejects rhetoric that could threaten Jewish Americans.
“I believe all Americans deserve the right to advocate for what they believe without fear of violence. This is particularly true for communities that have been intimidated for their beliefs in the past."
“My commitment to Jewish safety is the same as my commitment to the safety of my own daughters. Antisemitism is a scourge, and we need to address it in all its forms. And I stand against any rhetoric that puts the community at risk," he added.
El-Sayed also accused Republicans of focusing excessively on his relationship with Piker rather than issues facing Michigan residents.
“While politicians and pundits try to make this race about a Twitch streamer, we’re going to be talking about gas, groceries, good schools, and healthcare. Because that’s what Michiganders keep asking about," he said.
Rogers responded by accusing El-Sayed of attempting to separate himself from Piker only after securing the Democratic nomination.
“Abdul’s attempt at distancing himself from this violent and hateful rhetoric now that he and Hasan won the primary is the epitome of what a conman does - says one thing when it serves him and another when it doesn’t. His rhetoric is causing fear in Michigan communities, is un-American, and makes him unfit to represent our state."
El-Sayed's positions on Israel have generated controversy among some Jewish voters in Michigan, which also has a significant Arab and Muslim population. In a recent MS NOW interview, he described Israel's military actions in Gaza as "bloodthirsty" and accused Israeli leaders of genocide. In an interview with Jim Acosta, he acknowledged that Hamas had committed war crimes while maintaining his accusation against the Israeli government.
He has opposed unconditional US military assistance to Israel and has repeatedly avoided directly answering whether Israel has a right to exist. In one interview, he also described Israel's leadership as "as evil as Hamas."
At the same time, El-Sayed has repeatedly said he stands "in solidarity with my Jewish sisters and brothers" and wants to "condemn antisemitism."
President Donald Trump has also attacked El-Sayed since his primary victory, portraying the Democrat as hostile to Jews and Israel.
“When I watch Abdul, he’s full of s--t," Trump said at an event in Nevada, calling El-Sayed a “man of hate".
“He's a communist. And the polls were wrong again last night when they thought it would be a landslide victory for a hater of Jews and a hater of Israel," Trump declared.
Trump continued, “This guy hates Jews. Somebody said, ‘Oh, that's a little strong’. No, he hates Jews and he hates Israel…He's a man of hate. And now he's going around saying, ‘No, I love everybody.’ He doesn't love everybody. Put him in office. You're going to find out what he loves."
Trump further asserted that El-Sayed “doesn't love Israel. He doesn't love Jewish people. He hates them. He hates them with a passion that burns in his heart."
Trump predicted that Rogers, whom he called a "great candidate", would defeat El-Sayed in November.
“Actually, we do better against the communists, according to every poll. The poll says we do better against the communists. So he won. And so I think I'm happy. I put out a statement: Congratulations to the Republican Party."