Latest news with #Piker
New York Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Left-wing influencer Hasan Piker gloats as he returns to Twitch after being yanked for comments about DC Jewish museum shooting
Lefty influencer Hasan Piker is gloating after his Twitch streaming account was reinstated in just 24 hours following his suspension for suggesting last week's murder of two Israeli diplomats at the Jewish museum in Washington, DC, resembled a 'false flag' operation. The streamer and Democrat darling took to X seemingly to confirm that his suspension for 'Improper Handling of Terrorist Propaganda' had been brought to an end. 3 Lefty streamer Hasan Piker has been reinstated on Twitch after the platform yanked him over comments surrounding the DC Jewish museum shooting. Instagram/@hasandpiker Advertisement 3 Piker took to social media to gloat after he was reinstated. Instagram/@hasandpiker The post, repurposing a popular meme, shows a picture of a man in a hospital bed with a text bubble underneath. 'I lived bitch,' the text reads. Advertisement Piker, who streams on Twitch to his 2.8 million followers, sparked outrage over the weekend when he claimed the deaths of two Israeli Embassy staffers last Wednesday had all the hallmarks of a 'false flag operation,' a term used for an action staged to look as if it was carried out by a different group to pin the blame on them. 'I'm not 'Mr. False Flag' at all, but, like, every single thing that [Rodriguez] did in the aftermath of the shooting is so f–king crazy that it's like, you could not have designed a f–king incident like this,' he said. 3 Yaron LIschinsky and Sarah Milgrim were murdered outside the DC Jewish museum last week. Obtained by NYPost. 'You could not have decided a better false flag incident like this,' he said in the live stream, which was also shared to his 1.6 million YouTube followers on Friday.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Far-left streamer Hasan Piker suspended from Twitch after broadcasting DC shooting suspect's manifesto
One of Twitch's most popular streamers was suspended from the platform over the weekend for reading the manifesto of the suspect in the killing of two Israeli Embassy staffers last week. Hasan Piker, a streamer with nearly 3 million Twitch followers and 1.6 million YouTube subscribers, is known for broadcasting far-left content under the handle HasanAbi. In a May 23 YouTube video titled "What People Miss About The DC Israeli Embassy Shooting," Piker went through the manifesto of Elias Rodriguez word for word. Rodriguez was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and multiple firearm-related counts after Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night. In the video, Piker expressed a desire to "understand the mindset" of Rodriguez, who shouted "Free, free Palestine!" as he was arrested. "The reason why I read this manifesto … is oftentimes to understand the mindset of this person, especially when there are a lot of mainstream narratives that will immediately design an alternative scenario," Piker said in the video. 'Cheerleading For Terrorism': Twitch Star Called For New 9/11, Dismissed Horror Of Oct 7 Read On The Fox News App "I don't think that this person acted out on an antisemitic desire or is a f---ing Nazi or anything like that, but that is dangerous in a separate way," he continued. "The very fact that a person who is this legible, who has their s--t together enough to be able to write a f---ing, write prose such as this one, in the act of vengeance, in the acts of vigilante justice in his own mind, is meaningful in and of itself." Piker disputed claims that the shooter, who killed the victims outside an event held by the American Jewish Committee, was antisemitic – despite the fact that Lischinsky was an Israeli Christian and Milgrim was an American Jew. The pair worked together and planned to marry. "The idea that this is a neo-Nazi that came after Jewish people, deliberately looking for Jews to kill, like all of that stuff, is incorrect," Piker said. "This is not a value judgment on the actions of the shooter, but it's obvious that this was a person that was brain-broken by a lot of the realities that are unfolding in Gaza." In a Saturday post on X, Piker announced the suspension and shared an email from Twitch. The email stated that Piker violated a rule about the improper handling of terrorist propaganda content. "Based on a review of your activity or content, we have issued a global suspension on your account," the Twitch email said. "As a result, your access to Twitch services is temporarily restricted. Please be aware that repeated violations may lead to more serious actions on your account, including longer temporary suspensions or permanent suspension." In response, Piker claimed that Twitch's terms of service "dictates a suspension for even critical examination of the manifesto." Tim Walz And Aoc Play Madden On Twitch In Attempt To Appeal To Young Male Voters "i believe this is a bad policy for news and press freedom," Piker's post read. "ill take the suspension, but hope twitch changes this policy in the future." Piker has been known for creating extremist content in the past. He has regularly broadcast propaganda from the Houthis, an Iranian-backed group in Yemen that has been designated by the U.S. as a terrorist group, and claimed that "America deserved 9/11" during a 2019 stream. In March, Piker was temporarily suspended from Twitch after making a comment about murdering Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. "They're not tackling providers; they're not actually going after false billing. They are trying to cut recipients. [Fraud] is not happening at the point of recipient. If you cared about Medicare fraud or Medicaid fraud, you would kill Rick Scott," Piker said. The political commentator later walked back the statements, telling his social media followers that he was "sorry" over the incident. Click To Get The Fox News App "I'll choose my words carefully next time and say, 'if Mike Johnson cares abt (sic) medicare fraud (since he wants to cut 800m from Medicaid/Medicare) he'd call for MAX PUNISHMENT for current fl gop senator/former gov Rick Scott- who has done the most Medicare fraud in us history!'" Piker's post read. Fox News Digital's Nikolas Lanum contributed to this article source: Far-left streamer Hasan Piker suspended from Twitch after broadcasting DC shooting suspect's manifesto
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hasan Piker suspended from Twitch after discussing alleged manifesto behind Israeli embassy staff shooting
Hasan Piker, a popular left-wing political commentator, has been suspended from the live-streaming platform Twitch for the 'improper handling of terrorist propaganda.' A 24-hour suspension notice from the platform to the 33-year-old streamer followed his remarks regarding the shooting deaths of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday evening. While the notice didn't point to specific comments made by Piker, inappropriate behavior could include showing a violent extremist manifesto on stream while denouncing it and speaking out against terrorist organizations while displaying a recruitment video, according to Twitch. Piker has 2.8 million followers on the platform. 'I covered the motives of the Israeli Embassy staff shooter. Twitch [terms of service] dictates a suspension for even critical examination of the manifesto,' Piker wrote on X, referring to written comments allegedly made by Elias Rodriguez, the suspected shooter. 'I believe this is a bad policy for news and press freedom. I'll take the suspension, but hope Twitch changes this policy in the future,' he said. Rodriguez has been charged with federal and local murder offenses in connection with the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26. The couple left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum and were gunned down. Lischinsky was hoping to propose to Milgrim during an upcoming trip to Israel. During a livestream after the murders, Piker said: 'I'm not saying it is a false flag incident at all, I'm not saying that, I think this is just one dude who is genuine in his actions and maybe a little bit brain broken.' A flood of social media users denounced Piker's comments. In one X post, a user wrote: 'You called it a false flag. You hate the Jewish people and you are antisemitic.' 'Ironically enough, I was showing his motive to dispel the rumors of a false flag, which is the reason for this suspension but I don't think you're capable of critical thought,' Piker wrote in response. The Independent has emailed Twitch for comment. Earlier this month, Piker said he was grilled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Officials spent two hours questioning him about his views on Donald Trump and the war in Gaza, prompting concern from civil liberties advocates. 'I think they did it because they know who the f*** I am, and they wanted to put the fear of God into me,' Piker said about the encounter.
New York Post
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Lefty influencer Hasan Piker kicked off Twitch after sick comments about DC Jewish museum shooting
Left-wing darling Hasan Piker has been booted from the streaming platform Twitch after he suggested that the Israeli Embassy shooting in Washington, DC looked like it could be a 'false flag' operation. Piker, 33, claimed his account, which has more than 2.8 million followers, was suspended because of his 'critical examination' of the manifesto of suspected terrorist Elias Rodriguez, who charged with executing two embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum on Wednesday night. He said the attack outside the Jewish Museum had all the hallmarks of a 'false flag operation,' although he said he did not believe it was one. Left-wing influencer Hasan Piker was suspended from Twitch. X/@hasanthehun Piker announced the temporary ban with a post on social media. 'I believe this is a bad policy for news and press freedom,' he wrote on X, along with a screengrab showing the email he had received temporarily suspending him from the streaming platform on Saturday. Piker, who streams under the handle HasanAbi, was suspended for 'Improper Handling of Terrorist Propaganda,' and 'Sharing content related to terrorist or violent extremist groups,' according to the grab of the message from Twitch shared on X. But Piker's high-minded statement was met with disgust by many, who accused the influencer dubbed the leftist Joe Rogan of peddling antisemitism. 'You called it a false flag. You hate the Jewish people and you are antisemitic,' one X user wrote in response, something Piker was quick to deny. Twitch did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
After being stopped and questioned at O'Hare, Twitch star Hasan Piker says he isn't changing political commentary
Hasan Piker doesn't plan to change a single thing about his tone or his rhetoric in his criticisms of President Donald Trump or the war in Gaza as he blasts out his opinions to 2.8 million followers on Twitch. Even after he was stopped and questioned by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection while at O'Hare International Airport when he arrived for an event at the University of Chicago earlier this month. In an interview with the Tribune this week, the U.S. citizen and popular left-wing social media influencer described his encounter as intimidation. Piker said he was asked 'targeted' questions about his political beliefs, including his opinions on Trump and Israel. He said he was also asked if he had connections to the militant group Hamas. 'The mainstream response has been fear, and that's understandable,' Los Angeles-based Piker told the Tribune on Tuesday. 'It's not shocking that … most people are saying that this is completely unacceptable. I've even heard from Republicans that they think that this is getting out of hand.' A CBP official said Piker's claims that his political beliefs triggered the inspection are 'baseless.' 'Our officers are following the law, not agendas,' the official said in a statement. 'Upon entering the country, this individual was referred for further inspection — a routine, lawful process that occurs daily, and can apply for any traveler. Once his inspection was complete, he was promptly released.' Nevertheless, his May 11 experience went viral online, leading to outcry about political expression under the Trump administration and the heightened scrutiny of people entering the country. Stories from tourists being stopped at border crossings and held for weeks at detention facilities have also grabbed headlines, while Trump's aggressive crackdown on immigration and student protests have also increased worries among U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents navigating the last steps to citizenship. Federal agents appeared to arrest several people inside Chicago's immigration court earlier this week, and concerns over how to safely discuss the war in Gaza erupted after a Chicago man was charging with fatally shooting two Israel Embassy employees in Washington on Wednesday. In the midst of public scrutiny, experts from Chicago weighed in on what U.S. citizens and noncitizens should know when going through customs, and what rights they have. Craig Mousin, a faculty member at DePaul University's law school, said Piker's account isn't particularly surprising, given the 'abnormal times' in immigration enforcement right now. 'We have an administration that is weaponizing every means it has to stifle dissent and to make people afraid. What we can tell from reports … they are trying to intimidate people, especially those who have voices that would object to their policies,' said Mousin, also an associate minister for immigrant justice at the Wellington United Church of Christ. Piker, 33, said he flew into Chicago on May 11 from a family vacation in Paris to attend a speaking engagement at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics alongside a New York Times reporter. Piker, called HasanAbi on Twitch, was born in New Jersey. He's frequently critical of Trump and of Israel and the war in Gaza. Piker said he had enrolled in Global Entry, a federal program allowing low-risk passengers to travel through customs and passport control quickly. When he got into the Global Entry line, an agent asked him to step aside at the gate. Piker said he wasn't surprised, especially since he's heard similar stories from other travelers. Piker said he was taken past baggage claim to what he described as a 'detention area.' He said he sat alongside other travelers, most of whom he doesn't believe were American citizens, in a waiting area, before being pulled into a separate room for an interview. Piker said an officer asked him 'tailored' yet 'cordial' questions about a variety of topics, including his thoughts on Trump, the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah and his suspension on Twitch. 'It expanded into basically: What do you think about the president?' Piker said. 'That was one of the first moments where I was like, what does this have to do with anything?' 'I told him I don't like the president, and it's my right to be able to say that as an American citizen,' Piker added. 'It's ridiculous. I said I don't like the president because he said he was going to be a peace president and he hasn't delivered on those promises.' Up until the last couple of months, Nicole Hallett, a law professor and the director of the Immigrants' Rights Clinic at U. of C., said it would have been 'highly unusual' for someone to be questioned about their political beliefs or support of the president. It's more common to be questioned on criminal activity, what someone was doing abroad or items found in luggage, she said. When anyone arrives at a point of entry — whether it's a land border or an airport — they are required to go through customs in order to enter the country, Hallett said. The process of entering the country can differ somewhat, however, depending on someone's citizenship status, she said. U.S. citizens have guaranteed access to the country, she said. CBP officers can search luggage to check for contraband or to ask questions. Citizens can also choose to not answer the questions, 'asserting your right to remain silent,' Hallett said. They can also ask for an attorney. 'In that way, you still have the same rights as someone who's inside the United States,' she said. Green-card holders have more rights than most noncitizens, in that if the government wants to strip their green card status, removal proceedings in immigration court are required, Hallett said. Travelers with temporary visas, common among students or tourists, can be denied for any number of reasons, including refusing to answer officers' questions, she added. Mousin, from DePaul, said he recommends that green-card holders talk to an immigration attorney before traveling overseas. 'You want to not give them grounds for holding you in a secondary inspection or perhaps trying to put you in immigration proceedings,' he said. Piker said he decided to continue the interview because he wanted to see what the officers would ask. If they would have asked for his phone or laptop, he said he would have asked for a lawyer. He said he was released after about two hours. 'Given the immense privilege that I have as a public persona who has a decent amount of financial security, I wanted to use that to see what the line of inquiry looked like. … I don't recommend this to anyone else,' Piker said. Customs officers are allowed to search electronic devices regardless of a person's citizenship status, and they don't have to have probable cause that someone has committed an offense, Hallett said. U.S. citizens can't be denied access to the country if they refuse to hand over a device's password, though, she said. 'You are not required to give your password, and the reason is because that's speaking, and you have the right to remain silent,' Hallett said. 'However, they can make you use your face or your fingerprint to open your phone, because that's not speech.' According to CBP's website, less than 0.01% of arriving international travelers experienced a search of their electronic devices in 2024. They said these searches are used to 'identity and combat' terrorist activity, drug smuggling and more. Overall, Piker described the process as a 'nuisance' and 'annoying,' but not necessarily scary. He said he isn't doing anything illegal, and will continue his political commentary as usual. He said he does worry, however, about the administration undermining the First Amendment. 'Think twice before you say something right, like that's what I think is the ultimate goal of detentions like this and interrogations like this,' he said. 'I wanted to be another point of firsthand account, firsthand testimony, to what they are doing, so that people are aware and they're ready for something like this.' Piker also said he finds it interesting that CBP acknowledged the inspection while denying that it had anything to do with his political beliefs. He said he believes it speaks to the administration's hesitancy to 'come across as biased and persecuting people for their political opinions.' 'I still say to people they should not be discouraged, they should not be scared and they should keep speaking the truth,' Piker said. 'They should not shy away from speaking truth to power, especially those with the privilege of being American citizens.' The Associated Press contributed reporting.
