Senator John Fetterman challenged Michigan Democratic nominee Abdul el Sayed on Wednesday to host campaign rallies with two controversial figures, offering $100,000 total to do so.
On Fox News's America's Newsroom, Fetterman offered $50,000 if el Sayed would hold a rally with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker on the 9/11 anniversary. "I'm offering $50,000 for you to do a rally with Hasan Piker on 9/11, the anniversary, and you can all explain to people why America deserved that 25 years ago," Fetterman said.
Piker has built a following among younger voters but faces persistent criticism for antisemitic comments and statements about the Sept. 11 attacks. Representative Ritchie Torres, a New York Democrat, detailed the concerns in an Oct. 29, 2024, letter to Congress, citing Piker's description of Orthodox Jews as "inbred" and quoting him saying "America deserved 9/11." Torres wrote: "The 3,000 Americans incinerated or otherwise murdered in the Twin Towers; the falling men and women plummeting to their deaths from 110-story skyscrapers; according to Mr. Piker, all of them had it coming."
Piker said on Pod Save America that his 9/11 comments were "taken out of context." Twitch CEO Dan Clancy issued a statement Nov. 1, 2024, saying the platform has no tolerance for "racism, hatred, or harassment of any kind, including antisemitism and Islamophobia."
El Sayed campaigned with Piker four times during his primary but has distanced himself from the streamer as backlash from Democrats over Piker's antisemitic views mounted.
Fetterman added another $50,000 to the offer if el Sayed would "do a rally with your sister." El Sayed's half-sister posted a video on Instagram in 2024 on the anniversary of Hamas's Oct. 7 attack against Israel, delivering an "October 7th blessing" that began with "Allahu Akbar" and made no mention of the Israelis killed that day.
Fetterman framed the challenge as a test of character. "I'm encouraging el Sayed, you know, remind everybody in Michigan who you are, and the kind of people that you stand with," he said. "These are the people that he aligns with. That's the kinds of folks that helped him win the primary now."
El Sayed has not said he agrees with Piker's specific controversial comments. The Michigan Senate general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
