Hasan Piker's Mao Praise Draws Backlash After College Democrats Speech to DNC's Collegiate Arm
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 20
Hasan Piker's Mao Praise Draws Backlash After College Democrats Speech to DNC's Collegiate Arm
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 20
Summary
A resurfaced livestream from Piker’s November 2025 China trip spread Sunday, showing him calling Mao Zedong “one of the great leaders of this world” a day after he spoke at the College Democrats of America convention in Washington.
The clip intensified criticism of an appearance already under fire, with Piker telling student Democrats he was pushing an “insurgency” and urging them to reject party figures who fund ICE or support Israel.
Shannon Watts said Mao’s rule caused 40 million deaths and called Piker a “dangerous, hateful extremist,” while also urging voters to hold Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed accountable for campaigning with him.
Mao led China from 1949 to 1976, and estimates tied to the Great Leap Forward famine alone range from 23 million to 55 million deaths, giving Piker’s remarks added political weight as Democrats face scrutiny over left-wing allies.