Texas Sen. Ted Cruz reportedly called political streamer Hasan Piker a “Jew-hating racist” and questioned Democrats’ willingness to distance themselves from him, Hindustan Times reported.
Cruz had earlier criticized Democrats over Piker’s planned appearance at the University of Texas at Austin, Fox News Digital reported. In a statement to the outlet, Cruz called Piker an “America-hating Marxist” and accused him of saying the United States deserved the Sept. 11 attacks. Cruz invoked Americans’ free-speech rights while urging people to condemn what he described as Piker’s incitement.
The University Democrats event went ahead on Sept. 30. KUT reported that roughly 3,000 people had RSVP’d, while the university later counted 301 attendees in a venue with capacity for 466. The group’s president told KUT that university police charged $20,000 for event security. KUT also reported that the event proceeded without major disruption after Texas Hillel criticized Piker’s rhetoric.
NPR described Piker as a 35-year-old political commentator with influence among young people, particularly young men on the left. The outlet reported that Republicans had prepared attack ads targeting Piker and candidates aligned with him. In an Oct. 15 interview with NPR, Piker described himself as a socialist and anti-imperialist. He said he uses “inbred” as an insult for people he views as adherents of supremacist beliefs.
Democratic responses have varied. The Associated Press reported that Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed distanced himself from Piker after the streamer’s comments about American Jews and Israel. CBS News reported that Rep. Ilhan Omar campaigned alongside Piker, an appearance EconoTimes previously covered.
The 2026 midterm elections are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.
