Rob Flaherty, a key figure in Vice President Kamala Harris's unsuccessful presidential campaign, has sparked controversy by advocating for more online personalities like Hasan Piker, a prominent left-wing Twitch streamer known for his contentious views. Flaherty argued that Democrats need a diverse "ecosystem" of online voices to regain cultural influence, citing Piker as an example. This endorsement comes despite Piker's history of controversial statements, including downplaying terrorist attacks and making inflammatory remarks about 9/11 and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Flaherty, who also served as the White House director of digital strategy under President Biden, believes Democrats are losing their grip on online culture. He suggests that a network of individual personalities, rather than large media organizations, is the key to reaching audiences in the current digital landscape. However, his call for "more Hasan Pikers" has drawn criticism due to the streamer's past comments. Piker has been accused of justifying terrorism, including the October 7th attacks and 9/11, framing them as acts of resistance. He has also broadcast propaganda from the Houthis, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.

Piker's controversial statements extend beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He once praised the individual who wounded Rep. Dan Crenshaw while serving in Afghanistan and has made jokes about sexual assault. While some Democratic politicians have appeared on Piker's platform, Rep. Ritchie Torres has voiced concerns about Piker's amplification of antisemitism on Twitch, labeling him a "poster child" for the post-October 7th surge in antisemitism. Torres has also raised concerns about Piker's comments regarding gun violence against elected officials. Despite the controversy, Piker's Twitch streams consistently garner millions of views and attract tens of thousands of concurrent viewers. Fox News Digital reached out to Flaherty for comment but did not receive a response.