Chicago, May 13 (RHC)-- A U.S.-Turkish commentator, known as the one of the most-subscribed online streamer on the platform Twitch -- Hasan Doğan Piker -- was held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) at Chicago’s O’Hare airport and questioned for nearly two hours about his views on Trump and Israel’s war on Gaza.

Also known as HasanAbi, the YouTuber, influencer, and left-wing political commentator has 2.8 million followers on Twitch.  His streams typically consist of political and social commentary, gaming, and media consumption.  As of 2025, Piker is the twenty-first-most-subscribed channel on the streaming platform Twitch.

In a livestream broadcast, Piker, who was carrying a U.S. passport when he entered the country, said he was led to a private room upon his arrival in Chicago.  He said a CBP officer questioned him about his criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza, asking him: “Do you like Hamas?  Like, do you support Hamas?  Do you think Hamas is a resistance group?”

The incident has drawn criticism from rights advocates.  Chip Gibbons, the policy director of Defending Rights & Dissent, said the rights group was “deeply disturbed that CBP is stopping political commentators at the border to interrogate them about First Amendment-protected activities.”

“Such an abuse of power is an affront to press freedom,” Gibbons said.