Terrorist fanboys gain influence across political spectrum

A subculture of online influencers who glamorize extremist violence and target Jews is gaining influence across the political spectrum and affecting public discourse.

Hasan Piker, a progressive commentator with millions of followers, has said America deserved the Sept. 11 attacks and dismissed evidence of mass rape by Hamas on Oct. 7. He has appeared with Democratic members of Congress including Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Summer Lee, and Rep. Ro Khanna has joined his Twitch stream. Piker once called for the murder of Sen. Rick Scott before walking the comment back.

Nick Fuentes has denied the existence of Nazi gas chambers and described the Holocaust as exaggerated. At one rally he said Jews would go down in a holy war. Influencer Sneako, whose real name is Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, appeared onstage with Fuentes and told the crowd that Fuentes would become president of the United States.

Fuentes has appeared on Piers Morgan’s show and sat for a two-hour interview with Tucker Carlson, who called him smart and said he was saying true things. Comedians such as Theo Von and Dave Smith have also operated in spaces where violent or bigoted comments are presented as edgy entertainment.

Financial incentives and algorithmic rewards for outrage have helped these figures build audiences, particularly among young men. The article argues that political leaders, cultural institutions and platforms should stop legitimizing the trend by refusing to appear with such influencers and by confronting the role of algorithms in amplifying extremism.