NEW YORK — A top leader of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) publicly welcomed a delegation from the Chinese Communist Party at an event in New York City and offered a blunt description of the group’s ambitions, according to remarks reported by The Daily Wire.
Ahmed Husain, a member of the DSA’s National Political Committee, told attendees that the organization seeks to “push socialism into the masses of America” and described China as “an incredible positive vision of socialism for everyone around the world.”
Husain’s comments, first reported by The Daily Wire, came as he hosted the visiting Chinese delegation — a move that highlights the DSA’s openness to engaging with Beijing at a time when U.S.-China tensions remain high.
‘Largest socialist group in the country’
Husain touted the DSA’s reach, describing it as the largest socialist organization in the United States, with more than 200 chapters across most states. He said the group is working to expand its influence through what he called “different sites of struggle” — including housing advocacy, labor unions, and electoral politics.
The ultimate goal, he said, is to build a broad base of support for socialist ideas and present a compelling alternative to capitalism. In that effort, he argued, China serves as a model worth promoting to Americans and others around the globe.
“We try to push socialism into the masses of America,” Husain said, according to The Daily Wire’s account. “China is an incredible positive vision of socialism for everyone around the world.”
Same leader who called for ending ‘US empire’
Husain’s praise of Beijing stands in contrast to his past statements about the United States. The Daily Wire noted that Husain, an immigrant from Bahrain, has previously written on social media about destroying the “decaying fascist American empire” and has declared that “Israel never had the right to exist.”
His latest remarks also come just weeks after he played a prominent role in the DSA’s “Hands Off Iran” mass video call in early March, which drew nearly 1,000 participants. That call opened with a remake of Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War” and featured speakers who framed Iran’s 1979 revolution as a rejection of American and Israeli influence.
During that call, Husain was explicit about the movement’s long-term objectives. “This is going to end with a mass movement to put an end to the war machine,” he said, adding, “We have to create a real cost for the warmongers.”
He acknowledged that the anti-war movement was not yet strong enough to stop U.S. military interventions, urging attendees to recruit their own families and coworkers. “I don’t care if it’s your neighbor, your co-worker, your dad, your mom, your job is to get them to act. The DSA needs to act on every single front.”
Husain also emphasized that the work was cumulative and aimed at achieving a permanent shift in the political landscape. “We can end the US empire here in America,” he said on the call.
China ties raise questions
The DSA leader’s warm embrace of a Chinese Communist Party delegation is likely to draw scrutiny, particularly given the stark differences in political values between the two organizations. The CCP maintains a one-party authoritarian system, while the DSA operates within American democratic and electoral politics.
Husain’s characterization of China as a “positive vision” for socialism appears to align with a strain of left-wing thought that looks to Beijing as a counterweight to U.S. global dominance. However, that perspective has been criticized by those who note China’s human rights record, including its treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang and its crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
The DSA itself has a history of taking progressive stances on foreign policy, including calls for cutting military spending and opposing U.S. interventions. But the group has also faced internal debates over how to respond to China’s authoritarian practices.
Neither the DSA nor Husain has publicly commented further on the New York event, which was first reported by The Daily Wire. It remains unclear what specific topics were discussed with the Chinese delegation or whether any formal agreements were reached.
Political implications
The disclosure of Husain’s comments could fuel criticism from Republicans and pro-Israel groups, who have long viewed the DSA with suspicion over its positions on Israel and its embrace of progressive foreign policy.
Husain’s past remarks about Israel, in particular, have drawn backlash. His statement that “Israel never had the right to exist” puts him at odds with the Democratic Party’s mainstream support for Israel, even as some progressives have become more critical of Israeli government policies.
For the DSA, the episode highlights the tension between the group’s grassroots activist base and its leaders’ willingness to engage with foreign governments that are often adversarial to U.S. interests. While the DSA is a domestic political organization, Husain’s comments suggest some within its leadership see global alliances — including with Beijing — as part of the same struggle.
“The work is cumulative,” Husain said in March, reflecting on building a movement that could permanently change the political terrain. Whether his vision of socialism, as exemplified by China, will resonate with the broader American public remains an open question.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/dsa-leader-welcomes-chinese-communists-reveals-what-he-wants-to-push-across-america