‘It’s Absurd!’ Ro Khanna Claims Democrats Ditching Hasan Piker Would Show ‘Weakness’

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) blasted calls from establishment Democrats for progressive colleagues to distance themselves from left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, arguing that retreating from controversial political voices is precisely why the party is perceived as “weak.”

Khanna was pressed for his position on Piker during an interview with The Left Hook podcast host Wajahat Ali on Wednesday, who noted the popular streamer has faced sustained attacks on Fox News and criticism from figures within the Democratic Party.

Ali pointed to Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) suggesting on Fox News that the state’s senatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who defeated her in the primary, could appeal to more voters by shedding his association with Piker, as well as Neera Tanden, who amplified an attack on the streamer from MAGA activist Laura Loomer.

Asked whether Democrats should abandon Piker, and whether Khanna himself would renounce him, the California Democrat was unequivocal.

“It’s absurd,” Khanna said, warning the critics were the “same people” who pushed back on party colleagues appearing on Joe Rogan’s podcast and who were behind the backlash he faced for appearing on conservative commentator Ben Shapiro’s show.

“Should I not go on Ben Shapiro’s podcast because I disagree with him?” Khanna asked. “We had an oral argument on the minimum wage. Just because someone is engaging with Hasan Piker who has strong viewpoints on these issues doesn’t mean that you’re endorsing every single one of Hasan Piker’s positions.”

He continued: “And if you’re going to argue that we should exclude left-wing commentators and, frankly, some of these people were arguing that we should be cancelling and excluding right-wing commentators, you’re left with a party that is basically a status quo party.”

“That’s why we lost two elections,” he said.

The congressman then argued his approach instead was “engagement” with figures across the ideological divide, including those who publicly disagree with him and linked that reluctance to enter hostile political spaces by Democratic lawmakers as damaging to the party.

“I think one of the biggest reasons the Democrats are seen as weak is because we’re a party that has been too afraid to be bold, to be consistent, to be willing to be criticized, to willing to go into uncomfortable spaces, to be willing to take the fire,” he said.

“That’s the point of democracy!” he declared, adding: “Ultimately people see if you do that, ‘Oh this is a strong leader, he believes in what he’s saying, if he’s not willing if he’s not willing to stand up and to criticize with Hasan Piker how the hell is he going to stand up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin or [Chinese President] Xi Jinping?’”

“And so I think that this is what gives the Democrats a sense of weakness,” he concluded.

Watch above via YouTube.

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