Controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker defended former Chinese leader Mao Zedong as a “great man of history,” despite presiding over millions of deaths from state-mandated policies, forced labor, and mass famines during his rule.

Piker sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Axios this week and was pressed on his favorable views of some aspects of China’s political and economic ecosystem. Piker defended his praise of Mao and elements of China’s governing model during the interview.