Hasan Piker, a socialist Twitch streamer who previously drew criticism for saying America 'deserved 9/11,' publicly praised Zohran Mamdani's top aide Cea Weaver after comments she made about 'impoverishing the White middle class' and government seizure of property went viral during Bill Maher's segment on his HBO program 'Real Time.'

Piker, speaking during a Twitch stream reacting to Maher's criticism of socialist platforms, called Weaver's rhetoric 'beast mode' and said he loves her approach. 'One of the things I love about Zohran is that the people surrounding him are oftentimes so much cooler than he is,' Piker said. 'She's awesome.'

Weaver serves as chief of staff to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat who has faced scrutiny over his socialist platform and statements on Israel and other issues. Eric Adams, Mamdani's predecessor as mayor, criticized Weaver's comments as exhibiting 'extreme privilege and total detachment from reality.'

Maher had played clips of Weaver's remarks during his show, including her statement that 'If you don't believe in the government's sacred right to seize property, it's over.' Maher also quoted Weaver saying she wanted to 'impoverish the White middle class,' prompting his observation: 'You know you're supposed to scare people into voting for you, right?'

Piker disputed Maher's framing and said he found the criticism of socialist figures hypocritical. He defended comments about the Soviet Union's fall as 'one of the great catastrophes of the 20th century' while also praising Mao Zedong as 'one of the great leaders of this world,' statements that drew pushback from Maher.

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative critics say the episode illustrates how far left some segments of the Democratic Party have moved. Mark Halperin called Piker a 'horrible person' as Democrats face pressure to distance from the streamer and figures associated with his circle.

Vice President JD Vance, appearing on Maher's show, warned that 'limousine socialists' would destroy Michigan auto jobs and depress American wages if given power. The criticism reflects Republican efforts to paint progressive economic policies as disconnected from working-class concerns.

Critics note that Weaver's comments about seizing property and impoverishing a racial group—regardless of intent—alienate moderate voters the party needs in statewide and national races. They argue such rhetoric undermines Democratic candidates in competitive elections across the country.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive voices have largely stood by Piker despite his controversial history. Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed called Piker's 2019 comments about 9/11 'dumb' but maintained he remains an ally of the streamer. Piker has appeared with other far-left candidates and figures, including Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., and Wisconsin State Assemblywoman Francesca Hong.

Supporters argue that Weaver's rhetoric reflects a genuine critique of economic inequality rather than class warfare. They point to her background—growing up in Rochester and attending the School of the Arts—to argue she represents working-class perspectives often dismissed by mainstream politics.

Progressive commentators have defended Piker's streaming reach as representing younger voters increasingly skeptical of traditional Democratic Party positions on economics, housing, and healthcare. They argue that direct engagement with socialist ideas through platforms like Twitch reaches audiences traditional media does not.

What the Numbers Show

Piker has built a following of over 2 million subscribers on Twitch, making him one of the largest political streamers on the platform. His audience skews younger than traditional news consumers, with significant viewership among voters under 35.

Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race in 2025 as a Democratic socialist candidate, representing a shift in the party's base in major urban areas. However, recent polling shows socialism remains unpopular nationally, with surveys indicating roughly two-thirds of Americans holding unfavorable views of the term.

The Bottom Line

The episode underscores ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party between progressive figures comfortable with socialist rhetoric and more moderate voices warning that such messaging costs votes. Piker and his allies argue they are expanding the coalition by reaching new voters, while critics say the strategy risks losing swing-state races heading into 2028.

Fox News Digital reached out to Weaver through Mamdani's office for comment but received no response as of publication time.