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Piker, who often describes himself as a Democratic Socialist, has drummed up accusations of antisemitism from U.S. Rep. Henry\u00a0Cuellar, whose district includes a portion of San Antonio for the remainder of 2026.<\/p>\n
Hearst Newspapers \/ Getty Images North America<\/p>\n
Internet personality and left-wing political commentator Hasan Piker is slated to visit the Lone Star State this week \u2014 but despite 2,500 people signing up to attend his Sept. 30 live speaking event<\/a> at the University of Texas at Austin, not everyone is pleased with his impending presence.<\/p>\n Piker, who often describes himself as a Democratic Socialist, has drummed up accusations of antisemitism from U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, whose district includes a portion of San Antonio for the remainder of 2026.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The accusations largely stem from Piker’s criticisms over the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has led to widespread devastation<\/a> in the Gaza Strip, along with tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties.<\/p>\n In a Sept. 14 social media post, Cuellar wrote that Piker’s scheduled UT appearance was deeply concerning: \u201cFree speech allows difficult and controversial views, but it does not require anyone to stay silent when someone has a history of hateful comments about Jewish Americans, 9\/11 and Hamas terrorism,\u201d the House Democrat wrote.<\/p>\n ALSO READ: Angela Paxton says to vote for GOP amid divorce from Ken Paxton<\/a><\/p>\n Hasan Piker\u2019s scheduled appearance at the University of Texas is deeply concerning.<\/p>\n Free speech allows difficult and controversial views, but it does not require anyone to stay silent when someone has a history of hateful comments about Jewish Americans, 9\/11, and Hamas\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Rep. Henry Cuellar (@RepCuellar) September 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Piker, although critical of Zionism and Israel’s role in the Israel-Hamas conflict, has consistently spoken out against antisemitism. In interviews, he’s stated that conflating antisemitism with anti-Zionism is dangerous to Jewish Americans.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “Do not let a coordinated republican smear campaign become ‘reality,'” Piker wrote in an Aug. 24 X post<\/a>. “My argument against the dangerous false conflation between zionism and judaism which in turn increases antisemitism is now turned on it\u2019s head. zionism is not judaism. antizionism is not antisemitism.”<\/p>\n Additionally, Piker denounced San Antonio congressional candidate Maureen Galindo<\/a>, who said she would seek to convert an immigrant detention center near San Antonio into a \u201cprison for American Zionists and former ICE officers.\u201d Piker condemned Galindo online, calling her “Marjorie Taylor Blue” and stating she “fell off the deep end.”<\/p>\n ALSO READ: Texas Rangers accuse Camp Mystic of criminal offenses in children\u2019s death<\/a><\/p>\n Cuellar said Piker’s appearance could make some Jewish students at UT Austin feel “targeted or unsafe.”<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n “UT should be a place for debate, learning, and respect, not\u00a0antisemitism or rhetoric that excuses terrorism,” Cuellar wrote in a Sept. 14 post on X. “Leaders in both parties should be clear: antisemitism and hate must be condemned wherever they appear.”<\/p>\n University Democrats at the University of Texas at Austin, the student-led organization that arranged Piker’s speaking event, accused school officials of “soft canceling” his on-campus appearance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n