Hasan Piker says America is ‘pound for pound worse than al-Qaeda’

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Hasan Piker told Axios the United States is “pound for pound” worse than al-Qaeda when measuring deaths and terror caused around the world.
Piker defended the comparison by pointing to civilian deaths from U.S. military operations.
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, whom Piker supported during the primary, says he does not agree with the statement.

Hasan Piker just handed his political allies another uncomfortable question to answer.

The left-wing streamer told Axios that he believes the United States is, “pound for pound,” worse than al-Qaeda when it comes to terrorism and deaths caused around the world.

Axios reporter Alex Thompson confronted Piker with his previous description of America as the “top dog in terrorism.”

“Do you think America then is worse than al-Qaeda?” Thompson asked.

“Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes,” Piker responded. “We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.”

Piker argued that U.S. military actions have inflicted terror on civilians overseas while also producing consequences at home.

He pointed specifically to the deadly U.S. strike on a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, earlier this year.

“If you’re killing 140 schoolgirls, that is an act of terror,” Piker said.

Piker added that he wasn’t calling all Americans terrorists, but argued that the country needs greater accountability for civilian deaths caused by its military actions.

The remarks immediately reverberated into the Michigan Senate race.

Piker campaigned alongside Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed during the primary, and Republicans have repeatedly highlighted the relationship while attacking El-Sayed.

Piker’s history already includes his infamous 2019 declaration that “America deserved 9/11,” a remark he subsequently said was inappropriate.

El-Sayed wants no part of Piker’s latest comparison. “I do not agree with this statement, nor do I give much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer,” El-Sayed told Axios.

El-Sayed has increasingly distanced himself from Piker as Republicans attempt to make the streamer’s rhetoric an issue in his race against Republican Mike Rogers.

Piker, meanwhile, complained Thursday that Axios had turned what he called his “nuanced answer” into clickbait.

But his answer to Thompson’s central question wasn’t especially complicated. Asked whether America is worse than al-Qaeda, Piker said yes — “pound for pound.”