Ro Khanna defends engaging with Hasan Piker

Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) has advised the Democratic Party against distancing itself from left-wing commentator Hasan Piker, arguing that such a move would signal “weakness.” Speaking on The Left Hook podcast, Khanna addressed criticisms regarding Piker’s past controversial remarks, specifically a 2019 statement where Piker suggested America “deserved 9/11.”

Khanna argued that engaging with polarizing figures is a necessary part of democracy and that excluding commentators based on their viewpoints would leave the party as a “status quo party.” He suggested that the party’s perceived weakness stems from a fear of being bold or entering “uncomfortable spaces.”

Piker has recently attempted to distance himself from his previous incendiary rhetoric. In a statement to Reuters, Piker characterized his past comments as “imprecise language” and noted that he had apologized, stating, “No one deserves to be a victim to a terror attack.”