Top Republicans shred Biden government for offering condolences to Ebrahim Raisi's death

WASHINGTON, DC: Top Republicans have berated the Biden government for expressing condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was infamously known as the "Butcher of Tehran."

"It is absurd that the Biden administration touted their support for human rights while, in the same breath, offering official condolences for the ‘Butcher of Tehran.’ Clearly, the Democrat Party of today has become the pro-terrorist party," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn, told Fox News.

House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik termed Biden government's message 'unacceptable'

House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-NY, called the State Department’s message "unacceptable, unnecessary, and outrageous."

"Biden’s State Department expressing condolences for the death of a brutal and monstrous enemy of America who tortured and killed his own people and led the charge to fund terrorist proxies around the world that have killed American soldiers is a new low for Joe Biden," Stefanik wrote in a Tuesday morning statement, May 21.

"Sec. Blinken’s weak leadership and eagerness to appease the hostile Iranian regime reflects Biden’s policy of rolling over for our nation's adversaries," she added. 

The brutal reign of Ebrahim Raisi

Raisi and Iran’s foreign minister, Amirabdollahian. were declared dead on Monday, May 20, after a helicopter crash in a mountainous area of northwest Iran, the country’s state TV reported.

The late conservative cleric was known for taking a barbaric approach to silencing dissent, which started in the early 1980s when he was part of a four-judge panel accused of ordering the executions of as many as 30,000 political dissidents, according to some reports.

As president, he also oversaw a harsh government response to mass protests over the killing of a 22-year-old woman who was accused of not wearing her hijab properly.

State Department's statement after Ebrahim Raisi's death

The State Department released a brief statement upon news of Raisi’s death, "The United States expresses its official condolences for the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian, and other members of their delegation in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran. As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms."

What did the Republicans say about the condolence message?

"Ebrahim Raisi was known as the ‘Butcher of Tehran’ for a REASON. He was an evil tyrant who persecuted & killed thousands of innocent Iranians & was a protégé of the Ayatollah himself," Rep Byron Donalds, R-Fla, wrote on X on Tuesday. "The United States SHOULD NOT be sending condolences. The world is a safer place WITHOUT him."

Rep Mike Waltz, R-Fla, called on the Biden administration to "publicly denounce" Iran’s regime instead of offering condolences, in addition to backing Iranian resistance fighters and returning to "the Trump Admin’s campaign of maximum pressure."

State Department spokesman Matt Miller clarifies US' fundamental approach to Iran hasn't changed

State Department spokesman Matt Miller defended the US position when confronted about the controversy during a Monday afternoon press conference.

"We have been quite clear that Ebrahim Raisi was a brutal participant in the repression of the Iranian people for nearly four decades," Miller said.

"That said, we regret any loss of life. We don't want to see anyone die in a helicopter crash. But that doesn't change the reality of his record, both as a judge and as the president of Iran – the fact that he has blood on his hands. So I think most importantly, our fundamental approach to Iran has not changed and will not change," he added. 

Internet labels Democrats as the 'party of communism'

Netizens did not take long before they expressed their disappointment with the Biden government following their questionable statement after Raisi's death.

One X user tweeted, "The democrats are the party of communism. This is the scariest time in America. They obummer and soros have orchestrated an invasion of millions of illegals and Beijing biden is destroying our oil independence. These evil crooked criminals want to destroy America."

Another wrote, "It’s the DEMOCRATIC PARTY. You’re welcome." "How embarrassing. Butcher of Tehran going to get a moment of silence here in the US?" wrote one user and another echoed, "Pro-terrorist, pro-crime, anti-woman. Seems like a fun dude to grab a beer with."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.