Rep. Josh Gottheimer is publicly calling out members of his own party for what he describes as a glaring double standard on antisemitism, accusing Democrats of eagerly condemning hateful rhetoric on the right while remaining silent when similar rhetoric comes from prominent figures on the left.
In a sharply worded New York Times op-ed published Sunday, the New Jersey Democrat said too many progressives have refused to speak out against openly inflammatory comments from left-wing media personalities and activists even as antisemitic incidents continue rising nationwide.
“Today, too many Democrats are noticeably and shamefully silent when antisemitism comes from the far left — at a moment when the Anti-Defamation League is reporting a surge of antisemitic incidents in the past three years,” Gottheimer wrote.
“It’s a glaring double standard.”
Much of Gottheimer’s criticism centered on popular left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, a highly influential online personality with a massive Gen Z following and close ties to progressive political circles.
Piker, the nephew of “Young Turks” founder Cenk Uygur, has repeatedly sparked controversy over inflammatory remarks involving America, Israel, and conservatives.
Among the comments highlighted by Gottheimer were Piker’s past statement that “America deserved 9/11,” praise for Hamas as “a thousand times better” than Israel, derogatory remarks about Orthodox Jews, and violent rhetoric directed at Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida.
Gottheimer acknowledged Piker has a constitutional right to say controversial things. But he argued Democratic leaders have a moral obligation to publicly reject hateful rhetoric regardless of where it originates politically.
“I’ve spoken to congressional colleagues who have privately told me that many things Mr. Piker has said are disgusting,” Gottheimer wrote. “Yet they’ll say nothing about it in public, even as they rightly rush to condemn President Trump for his unending barrage of offensive comments.”
“There should be one response to those who express hatred toward any American: condemnation,” he continued. “Hate is hate. It doesn’t get a pass because it comes from your side of the aisle.”
The congressman’s comments expose growing tensions inside the Democratic Party over Israel, antisemitism, and the increasingly radical rhetoric emerging from portions of the activist left following the October 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Moderate Democrats like Gottheimer have become increasingly vocal about what they view as selective outrage within their own coalition, particularly when anti-Israel activism crosses into rhetoric targeting Jewish Americans more broadly.
Gottheimer also criticized fellow Democrats over recent votes aimed at restricting military aid to Israel, arguing some lawmakers apply standards to the Jewish state that they do not consistently apply elsewhere.
“If this is now the standard for supporting military aid and arms sales, then Democratic members of Congress should at least be consistent,” Gottheimer argued.
“Do they also believe we should block weapon sales to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey, given the history of human rights abuses in those countries?”
