A photo of political commentator and streamer Hasan Piker posing in his underwear was briefly displayed on a massive screen at the Republican Party's midterm convention, leaving the internet personality with one question.
"No f---ing shot," Piker said as he watched footage of the moment during a livestream, which he later shared on social media.
The image appeared Sept. 9, as part of a video played on the jumbotron during the opening day of the Republican National Committee's two-day midterm convention in Dallas. The photo, which came from Piker's social media, was included alongside footage and commentary targeting the political left.
Piker's stunned reaction quickly spread online, with the streamer later joking about his unexpected appearance
at the Republican event.
But for people unfamiliar with the popular online personality, the moment may have raised another question: Who is Hasan Piker, and why was he featured at a GOP convention?
Who is Hasan Piker?
Piker, known online as HasanAbi, is a political commentator and livestreamer with a massive following across social media.
The 35-year-old is known for his left-wing political commentary, often discussing U.S. politics, current events and pop culture during lengthy livestreams. He has described himself as a socialist and has become one of the most recognizable progressive voices in online streaming.
Piker first gained wider attention through his work with The Young Turks, a progressive media network, before building his own audience online. He now regularly streams political commentary and other content to large audiences.
His prominence among younger online audiences has also made him a frequent target of conservative criticism. Republicans have increasingly highlighted Piker and other progressive figures to portray them as representative of the Democratic Party's political left ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Why was Hasan Piker shown at the GOP convention?
The photo of Piker appeared in a video played during the Republican midterm convention as part of a broader message attacking the political left.
Other clips shown in the video included Democratic strategist James Carville criticizing Piker, footage of Black Lives Matter protests and remarks from President Donald Trump about communism.
Piker has also been outspoken in his political views and has publicly supported Democratic candidates, including Texas state Rep. James Talarico in his Senate race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican.
The moment came during the opening day of the GOP's unusual two-day midterm convention in Dallas. The gathering was organized ahead of the November elections to rally Republicans and promote the party's message.
Unlike a traditional presidential nominating convention, the event is not being used to select a presidential candidate or formally adopt a party platform.
Here's the video with his full reaction.
How did Hasan Piker react?
Piker appeared genuinely surprised when he first saw a still image from the convention showing his photo on the arena's massive screen.
"Oh my God," he said during his livestream.
After pulling up the full video, Piker watched the image appear on the jumbotron and reacted with disbelief and laughter.
"They posted the meat pic at the ... Trumpapalooza!" he said, referring to the Republican convention.
He later shared a video of the moment on social media, joking about the photo's appearance at the event.
The unexpected moment has since spread widely online, with Piker's reaction becoming part of the story surrounding the GOP convention's opening day.
Where is the Republican convention?
The Republican Party's 2026 midterm convention is being held in Dallas, Texas, at the American Airlines Center. The two-day event runs Sept. 9-10 and is the first midterm convention of its kind for the Republican Party.
Unlike a traditional presidential nominating convention, the Dallas gathering does not involve formal party business or nominations. Instead, Republicans are using the event to rally supporters, promote candidates and build momentum heading into the November midterm elections.
Who is speaking at the Republican convention?
President Donald Trump is the biggest name on the convention schedule, with appearances on both nights. Vice President JD Vance also has a prime-time speaking slot.
Other notable speakers and attendees include:
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
- Attorney General Todd Blanche
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson
- House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
- Sen. Tim Scott, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
- Sen. Ted Cruz
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate
- Rep. Monica De La Cruz
- Rep. Brandon Gill
- Donald Trump Jr.
- Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt
- Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson
Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the nation as the Weather Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network and contributes to Texas Connect coverage across the state. She can be reached at baddison@usatodayco.com. Follow her on Facebook here.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why everyone is talking about Hasan Piker at Texas GOP convention
