Bruce Blakeman tells Columbia students who are sending Death to America to get out

Nassau County Sheriff Bruce Blakeman, a former Republican governor, blasted a group of Palestinian students at Columbia University after they wrote “Death to America” ​​in Farsi following reports of the assassination of Iran’s top leader.

“To the Columbia University Students and Faculty who posted ‘Death in America’ – I have one message for you – Get the f— out,” Blakeman said in a video message obtained by Fox News Digital.

The dispute quickly spilled over into the race against Gov. Kathy Hochul of the Democratic Alliance, Blakeman argued that progressive leaders in New York have failed to address what she calls anti-American extremism at top universities.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest – which is not recognized by the university’s administration – describes itself as a coalition of student organizations that view the state of Palestine as “the vanguard of our collective freedom” and says it is a continuation of the Vietnam-era anti-war movement.

The group tweeted “Marg bar Amrika” – or “Death to America” ​​- on Saturday after Khamenei’s assassination. UX has taken down the post.

The development angered Blakeman, who is now a top name in the GOP field following the withdrawal of Rep. Elise Stefanik, RN.Y.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY’S ANTI-ISRAEL GROUP SLAMS NEW PRESIDENT AS ‘FASCIST’ OVER PAST COUNCIL OVERVIEW

Blakeman called the situation “disgusting” in a follow-up statement and called for immediate action from the student body.

“Let’s be clear: this is not activism. It is extremism and fear-mongering. America’s universities exist because of the freedom, protection, and opportunity this country provides,” Blakeman said.

“At Columbia University, something has gone wrong for many years.”

After the tweet disappeared, CUAD wrote that the social media forced the group to delete it in order to regain access to its account.

Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrives to vote during the 2024 presidential election. (Sobhan Farajvan/Pacific Press/LightRocket) (Sobhan Farajvan/Pacific Press/LightRocket)

“[B]feelings still linger,” they wrote, according to the New York Post, which reported on the follow-up before X again deleted the post.

The group called Khamenei’s death “sad news” and said “their hearts are with the Iranian people. [who] they have the right to protect [themselves] against the Zionist war.”

IRANIAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST CALLS ON MAMDANI FOR RESPONSE TO US-ISRAEL STRIKES

As the university eventually reiterated that it does not recognize the organization, CUAD wrote to X that it “has no relationship… with the official of the fascist regime known as Columbia University.”

“We operate entirely without a registered student organization and we are proud not to receive recognition from that institution,” said the group, which has also organized tented protests against the 2024 Israel “sit-in” in partnership with Mahmoud Khalil.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivers a televised message in Tehran on June 26, 2025, following the ceasefire between Iran and Israel. (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran/WANA) (Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran/WANA)

Khalil, who was born in Syria and holds a master’s degree from Columbia’s School of International & Public Affairs, is being held by the Trump administration at an immigration facility in Louisiana after a standoff until a judge orders his release.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

A statement from Columbia University to the Post read in part that CUAD “is using Columbia’s name illegally.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Hochul campaign for comment.

Related Article