Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faced a wave of online criticism after posting a 9/11 remembrance message on X, with critics accusing him of hypocrisy given his ties to progressive streamer Hasan Piker, who has previously said the US "deserved" the 9/11 attacks. Conservative commentators and Republican officials seized on the post, arguing that El-Sayed's message rang hollow while he continued to associate with Piker without fully disavowing his comments, turning the anniversary tribute into a fresh flashpoint in Michigan's competitive Senate race.

El-Sayed's post described the attacks as an assault on "the idea of America" and paid tribute to those killed, but made no mention of the subsequent "War on Terror," a theme he has raised in previous 9/11 statements, a change noted by a Washington Free Beacon reporter. Critics including the National Republican Senatorial Committee's Joanna Rodriguez, GOP consultant Ryan Girdusky and the account Libs of TikTok accused him of insincerity, referencing his past appearances alongside Piker. El-Sayed has previously said he does not share all of Piker's views and that only he and his campaign spokesperson speak for his campaign, adding that voters care about issues such as costs and healthcare rather than a "Twitch streamer." His campaign did not respond to requests for comment.