By Illinois Review
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has built his political brand on banning so-called “assault weapons.” He has called them “weapons of war.” He has said they do not belong in neighborhoods. He has blamed other states for Chicago’s gun violence crisis.
Yet this week, Johnson appeared live on left-wing streamer Hasan Piker’s Twitch channel – and posed for a photo with what appeared to be an assault-style rifle displayed prominently in the background.
The interview was not a traditional, pre-recorded podcast. It was a live stream on Twitch, a platform popular with younger viewers and known for long, informal political conversations.
Piker, often known online as HasanAbi, is a progressive commentator with millions of followers across Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram. He built his brand criticizing conservatives, capitalism, and American institutions.
Johnson and Piker discussed Chicago’s challenges, violence reduction efforts, media coverage, and progressive governance. But what stood out to many observers was the setting. In the background of their photo and stream sat what appeared to be an assault-style firearm – the same type of weapon Johnson has repeatedly said should be banned.
The Chicago Contrarian quickly pointed out the contradiction, posting on X:
“When @ChicagosMayor posed with the radical progressive, anti-Semite Hasan Piker, how did he and his security detail miss the assault rifle in the background?”
The post sparked debate online, with critics questioning how a mayor who demands sweeping gun bans could appear so casually beside a rifle.
Johnson has been one of the most vocal defenders of Illinois’ unconstitutional assault weapons ban under the Protect Illinois Communities Act, signed by Governor JB Pritzker in 2023. The law bans certain semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines.
In January 2023, Johnson posted: “We’re tired of vigils and trauma and gunshots in our communities… An assault weapons ban can’t wait.”
After a mass shooting in March 2023, he said, “Enough is enough – it’s time for us to ban assault weapons.”
When a federal appeals court upheld Illinois’ ban later that year, Johnson praised the ruling, saying it would help keep “weapons of war” off Chicago’s streets.
He frequently argues that Chicago’s violence stems from guns trafficked from states with weaker laws. He has supported lawsuits against gun manufacturers and called for federal restrictions nationwide.
That is why the optics of this Twitch appearance are raising eyebrows.
Chicago residents are currently subject to Illinois’ Protect Illinois Communities Act, which restricts the sale and possession of certain semi-automatic firearms and high-capacity magazines. The law requires registration of covered firearms and establishes severe penalties for noncompliance.
Mayor Johnson has repeatedly described these firearms as “weapons of war” and has supported both state and federal efforts to prohibit their ownership. His administration has also defended the law in ongoing legal challenges.
The Twitch appearance, which included a visible assault-style rifle in the background, has prompted questions from critics about the optics of the setting given the mayor’s public stance on the issue.
Johnson has not publicly addressed the firearm’s presence in the stream backdrop. The episode comes as legal battles over Illinois’ gun restrictions continue in federal courts and as gun policy remains a central issue in Chicago’s public safety debate.
