Full Breakdown
Todd Beamer’s Father Targets Michigan Senate Candidate Over Ties to Controversial Streamer
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Ad Campaign Links Abdul El-Sayed to Hasan Piker
David Beamer, father of United Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer, narrated a political ad released in early 2024 supporting Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers. The ad opens with a 2019 livestream clip of streamer Hasan Piker saying America “deserved 9/11,” then shows Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed appearing alongside Piker at campus events and includes a moment in which El-Sayed declines to disavow Piker when asked.
Background & Context
Todd Beamer became nationally known after his final phone call on September 11, 2001, urging fellow passengers to “Let’s roll.” David Beamer, a Michigan resident, entered the Senate race discourse to protect his son’s legacy. The race pits El-Sayed, a former health-policy official, against Rogers, a former U.S. Representative. Hasan Piker, a left-wing Twitch streamer, has drawn criticism for incendiary remarks, including the 2019 “deserved 9/11” comment and a 2024 Axios interview in which he said the United States is “worse than al-Qaeda” in terms of terror caused worldwide.
Official Statements & Responses
At a September 19 town-hall in Saginaw, El-Sayed said, “You shouldn’t be able to buy a politician.”
Data & Statistics
- 2019: Piker’s livestream comment that America “deserved 9/11.”
- 2024 (Axios interview): Piker claimed the United States has caused “tremendous terror” comparable to al-Qaeda.
- April 2024: El-Sayed appeared with Piker at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.
Timeline
- September 11, 2001 – Todd Beamer’s actions on Flight 93.
- 2019 – Piker’s “deserved 9/11” remark.
- April 2024 – El-Sayed campaigns with Piker at Michigan campuses.
- September 19, 2024 – El-Sayed’s town-hall remarks on corporate influence.
- September 3, 2026 – El-Sayed answers voter questions at the Oakland Expo Center, Waterford, Michigan.
- September 16, 2026 – President Donald Trump rallies in North Carolina; El-Sayed links his campaign message to broader themes.
- October 3, 2024 (scheduled) – Mike Rogers to speak at a Trump-hosted event in Saginaw, Michigan.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You shouldn't be able to buy a politician,” — Abdul El-Sayed
What’s Next
The Michigan Senate race moves toward the November 2024 election, with both campaigns expected to reference the ad and the controversy over El-Sayed’s association with Piker. Rogers’ campaign plans further outreach, including the scheduled October 3 rally.