Fact Check: Did Columbia University student group post 'Death to America' after Khamenei's death?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei died in an Israeli strike on Saturday, February 28, as part of a massive joint military operation between the US and Israel, Iranian state media confirmed.

Following this, a post circulated on X from Columbia University Apartheid Divest, widely known as CUAD, mentioning, 'Marg bar Amrika', translating to 'Death to America'. But what is the truth behind this? Let us find out below.

Claim: Columbia varsity students posted 'Death to America' after Khamenei's death

CUAD, one of the most high-profile student protest organisations in the US, following organising 2024's on-campus encampment at Columbia, posted 'Marg bar Amrika' on X on Saturday following news of the Iranian supreme leader's death.

Interestingly, the post was removed by X, restricting the account's access until the content was taken down. CUAD complied, making it clear it wasn't backing down from the sentiment behind it.

The group wrote in a follow-up post, "X forced us to delete our 'marg bar amrika' tweet to gain back access to our account, but the sentiment still stands." 

President Donald Trump announced Khamenei's death in a post on Truth Social, calling him "one of the most evil people in History" and saying his killing was 'justice' for Americans and others killed by Iran over the decades.

Moreover, Trump seemed to confirm that US intelligence played a direct role in tracking and targeting Khamenei, and said that the Ayatollah was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems.

Fact Check: False, CUAD has no official relationship with the institution

The claim that a Columbia University student group posted 'Death to America' after Khamenei's death is false, as CUAD has no official relationship with the institution.

Columbia University mentioned in an X post, "The group that calls itself 'CUAD' is not a recognized student group, or affiliated in any way with the University. There is no evidence that anyone currently in control of their account is a current Columbia student, staff, or faculty member. They are illegally using the Columbia name."

The university added that CUAD is not affiliated with them in any way, and that the group is not a recognised student organisation. They have effectively distanced themselves entirely from the post and from CUAD's activities more broadly.

Interestingly, in 2024, as anti-Israel protest encampments spread across American university campuses, Khamenei praised the student groups involved, including those at Columbia, and described them as having formed a 'branch of the Resistance Front.'

Khamenei wrote at the time, "You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your government's ruthless pressure, which openly supports Zionists."