Francesca Hong Distances Herself From Hasan Piker After Late-June Fundraiser as Criticism Revives 2020 Police Remarks
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 9
Francesca Hong Distances Herself From Hasan Piker After Late-June Fundraiser as Criticism Revives 2020 Police Remarks
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 9
Summary
Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong said appearing on Hasan Piker’s livestream did not mean she endorsed his views, after criticism over her late-June fundraising appearance.
Hong told MSNBC she condemns antisemitism, Islamophobia and other hatred, arguing campaigns need to reach voters on platforms they may not otherwise access.
Ann Jacobs, a former Democratic Wisconsin elections commissioner, accused Hong of “sell[ing] out the Jews of Wisconsin for a few bucks,” while Hong countered that politicians should not be held responsible for everything a host has said.
The scrutiny centers on Piker’s past remarks, including saying America “deserved” 9/11 and that Hamas is “a thousand times better” than Israel, even as he has become more visible in progressive Democratic politics.
The episode also renewed attention on Hong’s own 2020 call to defund and abolish police, comments she softened in May by saying she does not want to cut public-safety resources.