# Haz Al-Din

Haz Al-Din (born 1996) is an American live streamer and political commentator, activist, and theorist, known for serving as the founding chairman of the American Communist Party (ACP) and leading the Institute for a Free America think tank. He co-founded the ACP in 2024 following a split in the Communist Party USA (CPUSA), citing the CPUSA's support for the Democratic Party and alleged abandonment of Marxism–Leninism. Beyond his role in the ACP, Al-Din is a showrunner of Infrared, a political streaming platform on which he advocates for Marxism–Leninism, populism, and consolidating working-class Donald Trump supporters into a communist movement.
Al-Din's political work has drawn both support and criticism across ideological lines, with liberal and leftist commentators denouncing his rejection of identity politics, asserting his advocacy of class struggle through mass populism is often reactionary in nature.

## Personal life

Haz Al-Din was born in Michigan in 1996 to Lebanese Shia immigrants who had fled the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s and settled in an Arab-majority part of the state. He became interested in communism at the age of 12 or 13, initially drawn to the Soviet Union's achievements, which he found to be far more sophisticated than what was commonly taught in Western education.
Al-Din pursued a law degree, but took a permanent leave of absence from law school after completing his first year to begin livestreaming full-time with Infrared. Al-Din is a Muslim; he currently resides in the Detroit metropolitan area in Michigan.

## Political and activist career
### Infrared and online presence

Al-Din attended Michigan State University, where he first engaged with left-wing politics and became involved in Marxist theory. Initially influenced by Western Marxism, he later adopted Marxism–Leninism and developed an interest in Chinese political philosophy, particularly Xi Jinping Thought.
In 2020, he launched Infrared, a political streaming platform and YouTube channel focused on Marxist–Leninist analysis, geopolitical debates, and criticism of Baizuo movements. His platform grew in popularity through aggressive debate tactics, engaging with figures across the political spectrum, including left-wing, conservative, and nationalist commentators.
Infrared gained wider attention with the emergence of MAGA communism, a term first used in 2022 by Al-Din, viewers of Infrared, and political commentator Jackson Hinkle. The MAGA communism ideology and movement sought to synthesize Marxist economic policies with the populist energy of Donald Trump's MAGA movement, arguing that the latter represented a working-class realignment against neoliberal globalism.
The movement attracted controversy, with critics labeling it an opportunistic rebranding of communism to appeal to disaffected conservatives. The Guardian described MAGA communism as a "fringe movement" that attempted to blend populist rhetoric with socialist terminology, while Compact Magazine argued that it reflected a broader dissatisfaction with the traditional left's abandonment of economic issues in favor of cultural politics.

### Founding of the American Communist Party

In July 2024, Al-Din co-founded the American Communist Party (ACP) alongside Jackson Hinkle, Christopher Helali, Carlos Garrido, and others following a split in the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). The ACP was formed in response to what its founders described as the CPUSA's alignment with the Democratic Party and abandonment of revolutionary principles.
The ACP positions itself as an anti-imperialist and Marxist–Leninist party advocating for the nationalization of key industries, working-class sovereignty, and a rejection of liberal identity politics. Under Al-Din's leadership as chairman, the party has framed itself as a legitimate successor to the revolutionary communist tradition in the United States, with a focus on labor organizing, international solidarity, and opposition to NATO.
On February 23, 2025, Al-Din, along with fellow ACP representatives Jackson Hinkle and Christopher Helali, attended the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon.

## Political positions and ideology
### Overview

Haz Al-Din is a self-proclaimed communist. He promotes a synthesis of Marxism–Leninism and populism, asserting that the modern left has failed to garner the support of the American working-class. Al-Din has argued that Marxism–Leninism assumes a national form, rejecting the idea that class struggle exists in an abstract internationalist vacuum. He claims that true international solidarity is "based on a solidarity between nations", and that national sovereignty is fundamental to developing socialist movements in individual countries.
Beyond Marxism–Leninism, Al-Din has incorporated the philosophical works of Martin Heidegger and Aleksandr Dugin into his political thinking, arguing that their critiques of liberal modernity provide essential insights for constructing a post-liberal socialist order.
Al-Din has described the Soviet Union as an ideal civilization that sought technological and economic modernization while maintaining a deep respect for its historical memory and culture.
According to Kathleen Hayes of the Jewish Journal, Al-Din is sympathetic to "Middle Eastern jihadism" and has attempted to forge a red–green alliance with Islamists.

### Views on American politics and Donald Trump

Al-Din is critical of both the Democratic and Republican parties, asserting that capitalism has failed working people.
He has expressed skepticism about the role of the president of the United States, stating that the system itself dictates political outcomes, regardless of leadership. He has argued that Donald Trump's presidency will fail to salvage the American political system and that the American Communist Party (ACP) is preparing for an inevitable systemic and constitutional crisis.
While he does not endorse Trump, Al-Din has expressed pragmatism in navigating political structures, stating that the ACP is open to pursuing all available avenues to advance its political goals, including aligning with Trumpism.
Al-Din takes an anti-electoralism stance toward American presidential elections, claiming that he's never voted in a presidential election though he was sympathetic to the presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders.

### Opposition to NATO and Western imperialism

Al-Din's stances on anti-imperialism and multipolarity have drawn attention, particularly his support for Russia, China, and North Korea, which he describes as resistant to Western imperialism. In an interview with The Guardian, he expressed "profound admiration" for Kim Jong-un, citing North Korea's "resilience" against Western hegemony.
He has called for the complete dissolution of NATO, arguing that the alliance serves as an instrument of Western imperialism. He has supported Russia's war in Ukraine, framing it as a necessary challenge to Western hegemony, and has advocated for closer U.S. relations with China.
He has also expressed support for the Axis of Resistance, including Iran, Hezbollah, and other groups opposed to Israeli influence in the Middle East, stating that they serve as an inspiration to anti-imperialist movements worldwide.

## Controversies

Al-Din's political views have been widely debated, with critics accusing him of co-opting socialist rhetoric to advance a reactionary agenda. His MAGA communism ideology has been described by The Guardian as a "fringe extremist movement" that co-opts socialist rhetoric while embracing elements of nationalism and authoritarian conservatism.
Observers from Vice News and Compact Magazine have argued that MAGA communism lacks ideological consistency and is more of a cultural provocation than a coherent political movement. Yale professor Daniel HoSang has described it as an opportunistic ideology that shifts working-class discontent into a reactionary framework. The PERIL Lab at American University has suggested that it appeals to politically disillusioned groups and is exploited by online extremist networks.
Al-Din has rejected claims that MAGA communism is inherently reactionary, stating that critics misunderstand the distinction between its strategic approach and ideological commitments. He has said that many mainstream depictions of the movement are "superficial" and fail to grasp its deeper working-class objectives.
In 2022, Al-Din was banned from Twitch after researchers flagged his channel, InfraredShow, for spreading pro-Russia narratives about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A Tech Transparency Project investigation identified his Twitch channel as one of multiple platforms amplifying Russian state-aligned misinformation, including claims about the "de-Nazification" of Ukraine and false allegations of Western-backed biolabs in Ukraine. The Financial Times also reported on his content moderation disputes, highlighting his involvement in spreading narratives aligned with Russian foreign policy and his subsequent removal from multiple platforms.
In April 2024, Al-Din co-hosted the "Free America to Free Palestine" event in Dearborn, Michigan, alongside Jackson Hinkle, discussing strategies for influencing U.S. foreign policy and achieving Palestinian liberation. The event, which attracted controversy due to its anti-Zionist rhetoric and alignment with MAGA communism, was covered by Newsweek for its unorthodox political messaging. CNN also reported on the event, highlighting its pro-Russia and anti-Israel rhetoric, which were key themes of the event.

## Selected bibliography

* The Brahmins of Democracy: Bolshevism versus Menshevism (2022)
* The Rise of MAGA Communism (2022)
* Marxism is Not Woke (2023)
* The 32nd National Convention of the Communist Party USA: The Joe Sims Coup (2024)
* Class Struggle: Dialectics versus Metaphysics (2025)