Hasan Piker, the political commentator known to millions online as HasanAbi, thought he was just returning home from a trip to Paris.
But when he landed at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, he found himself pulled aside by U.S. Customs and Border Protection — and what followed was a two-hour interrogation that left him questioning whether his political views had made him a target.
From Global Entry to Political Questions
Piker explained in a video shared on Monday that things started off seemingly routine.
He was going through Global Entry, a program meant to fast-track customs clearance for travelers.
But things took a turn when a border patrol agent started asking about his job.
That’s when the questions began to feel more invasive.
Piker says the agent shifted from general questions to specifics — like what he talks about on his platforms and whether he discusses Donald Trump. That’s when alarms went off in Piker’s mind.
“Why Are You Asking Me That?”
Piker says the moment the Trump question came up, he had to push back.
“I literally straight up told him, ‘Why are you asking me this?’” he recalled.
But he didn’t hold back his opinion, either. “I don’t like Trump.
What are you going to do? It’s protected by the First Amendment,” he told the agent.
“Nothing I’ve done online is illegal… at least not yet,” he added, with concern that free speech might be under threat in the future.
Homeland Security Responds and Denies Political Targeting
After his video began circulating, a spokesperson for Homeland Security fired back.
Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary, dismissed Piker’s claims as “lying for likes,” saying he was not singled out for his politics.
According to her, the inspection was routine and he was released after standard questioning.
But Piker thinks there was more behind it.
Accusations of Terror Ties Surface
Piker says he believes the real reason for his extended questioning had more to do with alleged ties to Middle Eastern terrorist groups.
Specifically, CBP agents were interested in whether he had any connections to Hamas, the Houthis, or Hezbollah.
Piker strongly denied any ties to these groups.
However, he did admit he’d faced backlash earlier this year for interviewing Rashid Al Haddad — a 19-year-old believed to be connected to the Houthis.
Interviewing a Houthi or Just Practicing Journalism?
In the controversial interview, Haddad denied being a soldier, despite a later photo showing him armed with an AK-47 in Yemen.
When asked on Instagram if he was a soldier, Haddad said “yes.”
Piker claimed the man was simply a Yemeni citizen and defended the interview as part of his journalistic freedom.
Even if the individual had been a confirmed member of the Houthis, Piker argued that interviewing someone from a designated terror group is not illegal — and in his case, a form of journalism.
What Do You Think of Hamas?
Piker said the questions then grew even more pointed.
The CBP agent allegedly asked whether he “liked” Hamas or considered them a resistance group or a terrorist group.
His responses? Either that he wanted the violence to stop and supported civilians — or that Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, which is a matter of record.
A Debate Over the Houthis’ Terror Label
The agent also pressed him about the Houthis and whether they deserved to be labeled terrorists.
Piker said he referenced the Brookings Institution — a liberal think tank — whose experts have argued that labeling the Houthis as terrorists in 2020 was a mistake.
The Brookings argument? Such a designation would worsen conditions for Yemeni civilians and undermine U.S. security interests.
It was also seen as a political trap set by the outgoing Trump administration.
When Is Speech Protected?
Piker said he consistently told the agent that his content is protected speech under the Constitution.
After dodging question after question for nearly two hours, he finally asked the agent if he was being detained.
When the answer wasn’t clear, he took that as his cue to leave.
And just like that, it was over — no charges, no paperwork, just an interrogation that left him unsettled.
What It All Means Going Forward
This situation raises ongoing questions about the balance between national security, journalistic freedom, and political expression.
While Homeland Security insists the inspection was routine, Piker’s story has reignited concerns about government overreach — and whether political dissent is quietly being monitored.
Whether you agree with Hasan or not, his experience highlights the tension between freedom of speech and the power of federal agencies in today’s political climate.