Gov. JB Pritzker and former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel — two Illinois Democrats viewed as possible presidential contenders in 2028 — have offered sharply different reactions to controversial comments made in recent days by Hasan Piker, a Twitch streamer with a large following popular among some in the party’s far left.
As a guest Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pritzker did not condemn recent statements from Piker that the U.S. conducts more terrorism than al-Qaida, among other comments, while Emanuel issued a forceful condemnation of Piker’s remarks on social media last week.
The response from the two comes as an intraparty divide between progressive Democrats, like those more aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, and centrists has become a major issue ahead of the November midterm elections — a divide that is likely to continue into the 2028 election for president. Piker has drawn much of his support from the more progressive flank.
On the Sunday show, Pritzker — who, while seeking a rare third term as governor versus Republican nominee Darren Bailey, has also repeatedly fueled speculation about making a White House bid — did not directly answer host Jonathan Karl’s question about whether he would run for president in 2028. Rather, he said “my future” is his reelection bid and that any decisions beyond that are “about the people that live in my state.”
Asked whether Democrats should denounce Piker, the governor instead turned to his frequent target, Republican President Donald Trump.
“I’m just saying that what I think we should be talking about and focused on is how do we stop Donald Trump in his tracks? How do we make sure that we’re putting forward an agenda that really fights for the people who need it, which are the most vulnerable, the workers, you know, the middle class, who really need someone to stand up for them?” Pritzker said. “That’s why I’m a Democrat. That’s why the Democratic Party exists. That’s what we should be focused on.”
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Asked by Karl whether he would accept an endorsement from Piker, the governor said, “I don’t even want to talk about it. Hasan Piker doesn’t mean anything to me or in my election.”
Pritzker’s comments drew immediate criticism from Republicans. On X, an account managed by the Republican National Committee said the governor “refuses to condemn Hasan Piker,” as it alleged Piker believes “America deserved (the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks) & America is worse than Al-Qaeda.”
In an interview with Axios earlier this month, Piker said he believes the U.S. conducts more terrorism in the world than al-Qaida, the terror network that carried out the 9/11 attacks, “pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes.” Piker also added: “We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.”
On Friday, Emanuel, who most recently served as U.S. ambassador to Japan in President Joe Biden’s administration, noted Piker also said Communist China’s regime is the “model” for America and that the fall of the Soviet Union was “one of the greatest catastrophes of the 20th century.” Emanuel called the “pound for pound” comment “a ridiculous statement on a normal day, but particularly vile the same week we’re reflecting on the loss of 3,000 Americans on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.”
“The great thing about America is that everyone is entitled to their opinions and free to express them, however dumb or immoral,” Emanuel said on X. “That includes ‘Comrade’ Piker. The rest of us are just as free — obligated even — to call out this vile, hateful speech that only divides America.”
Piker has drawn an audience of largely younger Democrats, and rising party figures, such as Abdul El-Sayed, Michigan’s Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, have, in the past, aligned with Piker.
El-Sayed, however, has slightly distanced himself from Piker after Piker suggested “someone is going to come around and take action” if American Jews keep pushing pro-Israel sentiments, according to the Associated Press. In a statement to Axios last week, El-Sayed, who is not a DSA member, said he did not agree with Piker’s statement on al-Qaida, “nor do I give much weight to the statements made by a social media streamer,” before saying he was more concerned with fighting Trump and policies that raise the prices of gas, groceries and healthcare.
On Sunday, Pritzker downplayed any suggestion that the DSA could negatively affect the Democratic Party as a whole in a general election and insisted all Democrats must focus on Trump.
“I mean, Donald Trump took us into a war that’s now got (the) price of gas at five bucks, (the) price of diesel at six bucks, and it seems to be going north of that,” Pritzker said on “This Week,” referring to the war in Iran. “Groceries, everything you want to buy, an automobile, because of tariffs and the trade wars that he’s taken us into, that is what Republicans have allowed to happen.”