Sen. Ossoff Denounces Streamer Piker Over Remarks About Jewish Americans and Israel

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., has joined a growing list of Democratic lawmakers condemning streamer Hasan Piker for recent remarks suggesting that American Jews could invite violence upon themselves through their support of Israel. Ossoff, who is Jewish, stated through a spokesperson that he “unreservedly rejects reckless and dangerous rhetoric suggesting that policy advocacy invites violence against the Jewish community or any community.”

The Georgia senator emphasized that “American Jews and all Americans must have the freedom and security to speak out and petition their government without fear of reprisal.” Piker’s original comments, made during a livestream, claimed that if Jewish Americans continued emphasizing their investment in Israel, “eventually someone is going to come around and take action” against them.

In response to Ossoff’s rebuke, Piker accused the senator of being part of a “bought & sold political class” and declared that mainstream media faces a “credibility crisis.” The streamer, who had previously praised Ossoff as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, suggested that various organizations were operating as “lapdogs for aipac” without regard for truth or nuance.

A wave of Democratic condemnations against Piker emerged this week, including statements from Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, as well as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and multiple House members. Rosen called the remarks a “new low” and criticized Piker for trafficking in antisemitic tropes, while Jeffries characterized the claim that Jews were inviting violence as “dangerous and antisemitic.”

Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who had appeared alongside Piker during his campaign, distanced himself from the streamer, asserting that “nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople.” El-Sayed stated that all Americans deserve the right to advocate for their beliefs without fear of violence.