Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces backlash over his 9/11 message as critics highlight his ties to Hasan Piker and past remarks.
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is facing renewed criticism after posting a message commemorating the September 11 attacks, with conservative critics accusing him of failing to fully distance himself from controversial comments previously made by progressive streamer Hasan Piker.
El-Sayed posted his 9/11 message on X as the United States marked the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people.
“They didn’t just attack America that day they attacked the idea of America,” El-Sayed wrote, describing the United States as a nation brought together by ideals of freedom and justice.
He concluded by saying Americans should remember those who died in what he called “a terrible act of terrorism.”
El-Sayed’s 9/11 message draws immediate criticism
The post quickly triggered a wave of criticism from conservative commentators and political activists.
Much of the backlash focused not only on El-Sayed’s statement but also on his association with Hasan Piker, a prominent progressive streamer who has previously made controversial comments about the September 11 attacks.
Critics circulated photographs of El-Sayed campaigning alongside Piker and questioned why the Democratic Senate candidate has not more forcefully disavowed Piker’s past statements.
GOP consultant Ryan Girdusky was among those who sharply criticized El-Sayed on social media, while National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Joanna Rodriguez accused him of refusing to distance himself from Piker.
The controversy is unfolding as Republicans increasingly make El-Sayed a target in the closely watched Michigan Senate race.
Hasan Piker connection becomes campaign issue
El-Sayed’s relationship with Piker has become a recurring issue during the 2026 campaign.
Piker has previously drawn widespread criticism for saying that America “deserved 9/11,” a remark that has repeatedly been cited by El-Sayed’s political opponents.
El-Sayed has previously said that Piker does not speak for his campaign and that he does not share all of the commentator’s views.
“Nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokesperson,” El-Sayed said previously when responding to controversy surrounding Piker.
El-Sayed has argued that Republicans and political commentators are attempting to make the Senate campaign about a Twitch streamer rather than issues affecting Michigan voters.
He has instead emphasized issues including gas prices, groceries, education and health care.
Past 9/11 posts also under scrutiny
The latest controversy comes after earlier scrutiny of El-Sayed’s social media activity surrounding previous anniversaries of the attacks.
Earlier reports highlighted deleted posts in which El-Sayed discussed the September 11 attacks alongside the wars and civilian casualties that followed the U.S. response to the attacks.
One 2021 post compared the deaths and injuries suffered on September 11 with casualties resulting from U.S. military actions overseas.
El-Sayed has continued to condemn the terrorist attacks themselves while arguing that Americans should also examine the consequences of the subsequent “War on Terror.”
His latest anniversary statement, however, focused directly on the attacks and the victims.
Michigan Senate race enters national spotlight
The controversy comes as El-Sayed faces Republican nominee Mike Rogers in a Senate contest that has attracted national attention.
Republicans have increasingly portrayed El-Sayed as a symbol of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, while El-Sayed has sought to shift the campaign toward economic issues and concerns facing Michigan families.
Recent national coverage has also highlighted the growing role of questions surrounding Islam, national security and political identity in the 2026 midterm elections.
Republicans have seized on El-Sayed’s past statements and associations, while Democrats and El-Sayed’s supporters have accused the GOP of using inflammatory rhetoric to attack Michigan’s first Muslim statewide candidate.
El-Sayed pushes back against attacks
El-Sayed has maintained that his campaign should be judged on his own positions rather than on statements made by people with whom he has appeared or interacted.
His campaign has emphasized that he condemns terrorism and wants the Senate race to focus on issues such as the economy, health care and education.
The dispute over his 9/11 message is nevertheless likely to remain a major issue as the Michigan Senate contest moves toward the November election.
For now, El-Sayed’s anniversary message has intensified an already heated political fight, with Republicans using his association with Piker and his previous comments to question his judgment, while El-Sayed continues to argue that voters should focus on his own record and policy agenda.
