Call for Trump’s death echoes from Khamenei’s funeral stage: ‘Our duty to kill him’

Call for Trump's death echoes from Khamenei's funeral stage: 'Our duty to kill him'

Call for Trump s death echoes - During the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, held in Tehran on Sunday, a performer on stage addressed mourners with a sharp critique of U.S. President Donald Trump. The moment, captured by Associated Press, marked the first explicit demand for Trump's death by an emcee at such a ceremony, sparking immediate approval from a massive crowd.

The event took place amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, as the Iran war continued to simmer. Khamenei, who died at 86 in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28, had become a symbol of resistance for many in the region. The funeral, attended by hundreds of thousands, featured emotional displays of loyalty to the late leader and sharp rhetoric against foreign adversaries.

Chants and Rhetoric

As the ceremony unfolded, Mohammad Rasouli, a poet speaking through loudspeakers, led the audience in vocal expressions of hostility toward the United States and Israel. His remarks, which included a pointed question, were met with fervent responses from the crowd.

“Why is the most b*****d man in the world still alive?”

The phrase, directed at Trump, encapsulated the anger toward the U.S. leader, with attendees shouting “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!” before shifting their focus to Trump’s fate.

A separate video circulating online showed an individual at the funeral raising anti-Trump slogans, declaring, “Why don't we kill the one who killed our Imam? It is our duty. If we don't kill the one who killed you, from now on, the shroud is the place to take us. It is our duty, I swear to your blood, to kill Trump.” While the footage highlighted the sentiment, it remained unclear whether the speaker was the same person as the stage performer.

Across Iran, signs of anti-American sentiment have grown more visible, with posters and graffiti demanding Trump’s assassination alongside that of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. These displays reflect the enduring stance of hardline factions within the country, who view the U.S. and Israel as key threats.

Context and Negotiations

The funeral, which drew a larger turnout than the previous day’s events, saw mourners in black garments carrying flags and banners in honor of Khamenei. Some also held placards calling for Trump’s death, underscoring the event’s dual role as both a mourning ritual and a platform for political messaging.

Meanwhile, Trump was in Washington commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding. He praised the U.S. military’s success, stating, “We’ve had tremendous success. You look at Venezuela, you look at Iran. We wiped it out, wiped out their military.”

The gathering has been seen as a pivotal moment for Iran’s leadership, particularly for the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. As negotiations with Washington for a lasting peace agreement remain stalled, the funeral serves as a reminder of the country’s strategic position at the Strait of Hormuz and its determination to maintain leverage.

Despite the high-profile event, the funeral had been delayed due to ongoing hostilities, and talks to end the war are still on hold until the conflict reaches a resolution.