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Ilhan Omar Defends Controversial Streamer's Appearance at Campaign Event
Confirmed
In Short: Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar is set to appear at a campaign event with controversial streamer Hasan Piker on Monday night, despite mounting opposition from fellow Minnesota Democrats.
Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar is set to appear at a campaign event with controversial streamer Hasan Piker on Monday night, despite mounting opposition from fellow Minnesota Democrats.
Omar's campaign has defended the decision, citing Piker's appeal among younger voters who Democrats are trying to mobilize for the midterms.
University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs told FOX 9 the event could create a split within the DFL party and distract statewide Democrats from their closing message.
Rep. Angie Craig and Sen. Amy Klobuchar's gubernatorial campaign have criticized Piker's rhetoric, calling it 'polarizing and dangerous' and 'reckless and unacceptable,' respectively.
Piker has faced backlash over comments including his assertion that 'America deserved 9/11' and statements suggesting potential violence against American Jews.
Omar's campaign told FOX 9, 'Early voting among people under 40 is down, and we need to do everything to get young people to the polls.'
Fox News Digital reached out to Omar's campaign, state Sen. Omar Fateh, and Piker for additional comment but did not receive a response.
What's confirmed
- Other Democratic officials and party groups have gone further, calling on Omar and state Sen. Omar Fateh, who is hosting the sold-out Minneapolis event, to cancel the appearance.
- University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs told FOX 9 the event would “create a split within the DFL [Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party],” arguing it could distract statewide Democrats from their closing message and put candidates in a difficult position with moderate and Jewish voters.
What's still developing
- Fateh is a self-declared democratic socialist who supported Black Lives Matter rioters, returned thousands of dollars in campaign donations linked to a massive fraud scheme, and advocated for Amazon to implement mandatory prayer breaks for Muslim employees, according to Breitbart News.
- Gov. Peggy Flanagan and the allegations involving Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on ‘The Big Weekend Show.’ Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is set to share the stage with far-left streamer Hasan Piker on Monday night despite mounting opposition from fellow Minnesota Democrats, some of whom have publicly urged the congresswoman to cancel the appearance just eight days before the midterm elections.
- He later apologized for saying in 2019 that "America deserved 9/11" and has rejected accusations of antisemitism.
- "vote for Hamas over Israel every single time."
- "People don't f--- with Israel any longer. And if Jews in America keep putting this idea out there that they're singularly invested in Israel, eventually someone will come around and take action not against Israel, mind you, but against American Jews," Piker said in August.
- "The Congresswoman knows the Democratic Party is a Big Tent party, and she's excited to join Senator Omar Fateh's event to mobilize young voters and get them to vote in this critical midterm election."
- Senate nominee Michele Tafoya discusses her race against Democratic nominee Lt.
- Piker, who commands millions of followers across social media, has faced backlash over remarks involving the Sept.