A social media dispute between U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) and left-wing streamer Hasan Piker escalated this week after Piker told Axios that the United States is worse than Al-Qaeda “pound for pound” in terms of deaths caused.
In the Axios interview, Piker was asked to clarify an earlier statement that America is the “top dog in terrorism.” Asked directly whether he believes the U.S. is worse than Al-Qaeda, Piker responded: “Pound for pound as far as the number of deaths, yes. We have caused tremendous terror all around the world.”
Gill, a Texas Republican, responded on social media with a personal attack on Piker’s background. “Hasan Piker is the poster child for why we need to end birth tourism,” Gill wrote. “He was born in America to Turkish nationals, was raised back in Turkey to hate western civilization, and now spends his time working to make America weaker and our enemies stronger.”
The exchange then turned to Gill’s family. Piker replied to Gill with a brief message referencing Gill’s wife, Danielle D’Souza Gill: “your wife is indian.”
Gill fired back, describing his wife as “an American, born in America to American citizens” who “deeply loves our nation and its culture.” He continued: “You, on the other hand, were born to foreign invaders and want to turn America into the third world culture you were raised in, while advocating for communism at your $3 million mansion in between electrocuting your dog.”
Dinesh D’Souza, Danielle Gill’s father and a conservative commentator, joined the exchange, writing of his daughter: “She’s Christian, born in America and her mom is white. Care to shows us a picture of your family?”
Broader political fallout
Piker has been serving as a surrogate for Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan. Critics have pointed to Piker’s past remarks minimizing 9/11 and Islamic terrorism as a liability for El-Sayed’s campaign, given Piker’s role as a prominent voice within Democratic circles.
Gill, who has been mentioned as a potential future chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has drawn attention in the past for combative exchanges with reporters. In a separate incident cited by RedState, Gill dismissed a reporter who identified herself as working for Al Jazeera English, telling her: “Al Jazeera? No, I don’t have any desire to talk to Al Jazeera. You guys can get lost. I don’t have anything to say to you guys. Why don’t you go somewhere else to report? I’m not talking to you guys at all. Get lost.”
Neither Gill’s office nor Piker has issued further comment beyond the social media posts.
