Yale Hosts Controversial Streamer Who Called for Senator's 'Killing'

Senator Rick Scott demands Yale's federal funding be revoked over planned event with Hasan Piker.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:18pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary Yale University building in warm, golden light, with a lone figure standing in front of the entrance, conveying the quiet tension and political drama surrounding the planned event.The planned Yale event featuring a controversial streamer has ignited a political firestorm, exposing the delicate balance between academic freedom and political pressure.New Haven Today

Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., is calling on President Trump to revoke Yale University's federal funding over a planned event featuring controversial Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker. Piker has faced backlash for past comments, including saying "America deserved 9/11" and excusing sexual violence. Scott previously accused Piker of saying he should be "killed" during a livestream.

Why it matters

The planned Yale event featuring Piker has sparked a political controversy, with a Republican senator demanding the university's federal funding be cut over the decision to host the controversial streamer. This highlights ongoing tensions between left-leaning academic institutions and conservative politicians.

The details

Piker is set to appear at the Yale Political Union for an event titled "Resolved: End the American Empire" on Tuesday. In the past, Piker has faced criticism for comments such as saying "America deserved 9/11" and excusing sexual violence. Senator Rick Scott, R-Fla., who spoke at the Yale Political Union last year, is now calling for the university's federal funding to be revoked over the planned Piker event. Scott previously accused Piker of saying he should be "killed" during a livestream discussion about Republican efforts to reform Medicaid.

  • Piker is scheduled to speak at the Yale Political Union on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • Scott spoke at the Yale Political Union last year, in 2025.

The players

Hasan Piker

A Twitch streamer and political commentator who has faced backlash for controversial comments, including saying "America deserved 9/11" and excusing sexual violence.

Senator Rick Scott

A Republican senator from Florida who is calling for Yale's federal funding to be revoked over the planned event featuring Hasan Piker.

Yale University

The Ivy League institution hosting the event featuring the controversial streamer Hasan Piker.

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What they’re saying

“This is WILD. I spoke at the Yale Political Union last year on why we need to buy made in America products. Now, they are hosting a guy who said I should be killed.”

— Senator Rick Scott, U.S. Senator

“Yale receives billions from the federal government — President Trump and Congress need to IMMEDIATELY revoke it. An elite private university that hosts an antisemite who says a Senator should be killed, capitalists should be killed, and the U.S. deserved 9/11, shouldn't get ONE CENT from taxpayers.”

— Senator Rick Scott, U.S. Senator

What’s next

The Yale Political Union has not responded to requests for comment on Senator Scott's push to revoke the university's federal funding over the planned Hasan Piker event.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between left-leaning academic institutions and conservative politicians. The decision by Yale to host a speaker with a history of controversial statements has sparked a political firestorm, raising questions about the role of free speech on college campuses and the appropriate use of federal funding.