Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan recently caused an uproar on social media with a provocative statement calling for more plane crashes in America.
The British-American journalist posted the phrase “Make American Planes Crash Again” on X late Sunday, just hours after a deadly crash at Georgia’s Covington Airport and amid reports of other aviation incidents, including a Delta flight landing upside down in Toronto.
The post quickly sparked outrage, given the sensitive nature of recent plane crashes and the haunting memories of 9/11.
Hasan’s Controversial Post and Immediate Backlash
The timing of Hasan’s post couldn’t have been worse, with multiple deadly plane crashes fresh in the public’s mind, including a crash over Washington D.C. that killed 67 people, and another in Alaska that claimed 10 lives.
Social media users were quick to condemn his comment, especially in light of the September 11 attacks.
As criticism poured in, Hasan deleted the post and responded by claiming it was sarcastic.
He also expressed frustration, arguing that conservatives were misrepresenting his words by taking them out of context, despite the direct response to the Georgia crash.
Mehdi Hasan’s Defense and Victimization Claims
After deleting the tweet, Hasan took to social media again to explain that the comment was meant to be sarcastic.
He also stated that he was now the victim of an Islamophobic backlash.
In his defense, he suggested that his critics were using his words as an opportunity to target him unfairly.
However, many saw through the defense, accusing him of using the controversy to paint himself as a victim while deflecting from the real issue at hand.
Asra Nomani Calls Out Hasan for Manipulation
Among the critics was Asra Nomani, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, author, and outspoken Muslim advocate.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, Nomani condemned Hasan’s comments, claiming that he knew exactly what he was doing when he posted the inflammatory tweet.
She pointed out the callousness of his words, especially considering the historical context of September 11 and the tragic deaths of innocent people in plane crashes.
Nomani accused Hasan of manipulating the situation by portraying himself as a victim and using “Islamophobia” as a shield to deflect criticism.
A Long-Standing Controversial Figure
Nomani also criticized Hasan’s role in American media, claiming he had used his platform at MSNBC to spread propaganda.
She argued that Hasan had intentionally cultivated an audience that would rally behind him in the face of criticism.
By aligning himself with far-left and Islamist communities, she suggested, he had created a shield to avoid accountability.
“What you must know,” she said, “Mehdi Hasan is a decade in the making in our great United States.”
Tensions with JD Vance Over Free Speech
Earlier in the week, Hasan had clashed with Vice President JD Vance over the issue of free speech.
Vance had criticized European leaders for taking an authoritarian approach to free speech, targeting “misinformation” and “hate speech.”
In response, Hasan questioned why former President Donald Trump had banned Associated Press journalists from the White House pool, citing their refusal to call the Gulf of Mexico by its “American” name.
Vance did not hold back, calling Hasan a “dummy” during the heated exchange.
Hasan’s controversial remarks and the fallout surrounding them have once again put him at the center of a heated debate on free speech, media influence, and the power of social media.