Michigan Professor Condemns Trump Over Khamenei's Death, Sparks Free Speech Debate

A Michigan community college professor has ignited a firestorm by publicly condemning former President Donald Trump for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian Supreme Leader. Ali Akbar Shdid, an engineering instructor at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, shared a viral video on Instagram after U.S. and Israeli forces carried out a joint strike on Iran, which he claimed resulted in Khamenei's death. His remarks have raised eyebrows across the country, drawing sharp criticism from social media users and reigniting debates about free speech, loyalty, and the role of public institutions in fostering divisive rhetoric.

Shdid's video, which has been reshared thousands of times, is filled with impassioned language. He called Trump's actions a 'huge mistake' and accused the former president of making the Iranian people 'hopeless.' Yet the professor also claimed that Khamenei had ordered the killing of 30,000 citizens during recent anti-government protests in Iran—a claim that contradicts international reports and Iranian state media. 'He thought that by killing him he's going to make the believers submit and make them hopeless,' Shdid said. 'However, we're going to continue on the path of Sayid Ali Khamenei.'

What does it mean for a taxpayer-funded institution to host a professor who openly praises a figure the U.S. government has long labeled as the head of a terrorist network? Shdid's words have left many wondering where the line between free speech and disloyalty lies. He described Khamenei as a 'pure soul' and urged followers to 'hold his blood, his ideology' and 'teach it to our children and grandchildren.' His comments ended with a prayer that the Ayatollah be 'returned back to the Lord as a martyr' and 'showered with peace and mercy in paradise.'

The video has sparked outrage, particularly among users on X (formerly Twitter), who have accused Shdid of declaring himself an enemy of the United States. One user wrote: 'It is absolutely atrocious to have a person part of a terrorist group working for one of our public school systems. Fire him.' Others questioned his use of the term 'our leader,' arguing that if Khamenei is indeed a terrorist, then Shdid's allegiance is not to the U.S. but to an enemy of the state. 'If you're American, Donald Trump is your leader. Your elected Congressmen and Senators are your leaders,' one user tweeted. 'If a foreign leader, especially one classified by your government as a terrorist, is your leader, then you're not an American.'

The backlash has only intensified questions about whether Shdid's remarks cross into threats or hate speech. Some users have asked: 'Is it legal in America to say you are going to