Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) on Thursday became the latest Democratic figure to condemn far-left streamer Hasan Piker, whose recent on-air remarks about American Jews and Israel have ignited a firestorm within the party.
In a statement issued through a spokesperson, Ossoff said he “unreservedly rejects” Piker’s rhetoric, calling it “reckless and dangerous” for suggesting that policy advocacy could invite violence against the Jewish community or any community. The Georgia Democrat, who is the state’s first Jewish senator, emphasized that the right to speak out should not come with a cost.
“American Jews and all Americans must have the freedom and security to speak out and petition their government without fear of reprisal,” Ossoff said.
Ossoff’s rebuke came days after Piker, during a roughly seven-hour stream on August 20, displayed a photo of Michigan state Sen. Jeremy Moss — a Jewish Democrat running for Congress — and warned that American Jews could face violence over support for Israel.
“If Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they are singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone’s going to come around and take action, not against the State of Israel, mind you, but against American Jews,” Piker said during the stream.
The remarks drew swift condemnation from top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), who on Monday labeled the comments “dangerous, malicious and antisemitic” without naming Piker. Asked on CNN the next day whether he was referring to the streamer, Jeffries confirmed he was.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) went further on CNN’s Inside Politics, calling Piker’s framing a “Nazi-like formula” and arguing that silence in the face of such rhetoric amounts to complicity. “You’re complicit if you refuse to condemn comments like that,” Gottheimer said.
Piker, a popular left-wing streamer with a large online following, has dismissed the backlash as a “coordinated smear campaign.” He blamed the pro-Israel lobby, claiming an “AIPAC boss call was made” and that his critics were “unanimous in their hatred.” He also suggested tallying how much AIPAC money his detractors had received.
The controversy has also intersected with Democratic primary politics. Piker has used his platform to boost Democratic candidates this cycle, including Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, who wrapped his primary at a Detroit pool party with Piker on the guest list. Piker has also praised Ossoff, calling him a “dark-horse” presidential prospect — a nod that has not shielded Ossoff from criticism.
Republican Senate nominee Mike Collins, who is running against Ossoff in Georgia, has seized on Piker’s praise, framing the race in stark terms. “This race is simple: It’s America vs. the people who hate it,” Collins said.
The episode has highlighted tensions within the Democratic coalition over Israel policy and the limits of acceptable discourse. While some Democrats have called for unity against antisemitism, others have defended Piker’s right to criticize Israeli policy, arguing that his remarks were taken out of context.
Piker has not publicly apologized for the comments. A representative for the streamer did not respond to requests for further comment.
Ossoff’s statement adds to the growing list of Democrats distancing themselves from Piker’s rhetoric, even as the party grapples with how to address the issue without alienating progressive voters who see Piker as a key voice on the left.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/27/ossoff-condemns-hasan-piker-days-after-streamer-called-him-2028-pick/