NY GOP Candidate Blasts Columbia Group Over 'Death to America' Post

Bruce Blakeman tells pro-Palestinian student group to 'get the f--- out' after controversial tweet

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican front-runner for governor of New York, has strongly condemned a pro-Palestinian Columbia University student group for posting 'Death to America' in Farsi following the reported killing of Iran's supreme leader. Blakeman called the situation 'disgusting' and demanded immediate action against the student group, arguing that progressive leaders in New York have failed to confront rising anti-American extremism at elite universities.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between pro-Palestinian activism and concerns over anti-American sentiment on college campuses. As a prominent GOP candidate, Blakeman's response reflects the Republican party's efforts to make this a campaign issue, targeting the leadership of Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul.

The details

The controversial tweet was posted by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student group that is not recognized by the university administration. CUAD described the tweet as a continuation of the Vietnam-era anti-war movement and said their 'hearts are with the Iranian people [who] have every right to defend [themselves] against Zionist warfare.' After the tweet was deleted, CUAD said the social media platform forced them to do so to regain access to their account, but that 'the sentiment still stands.'

  • On Saturday, CUAD posted the 'Death to America' tweet in Farsi following the reported killing of Iran's supreme leader.

The players

Bruce Blakeman

The Republican front-runner for governor of New York and the Nassau County Executive, who has strongly condemned the Columbia University student group's 'Death to America' post.

Kathy Hochul

The Democratic Governor of New York, whose leadership Blakeman has criticized for failing to address anti-American extremism at elite universities.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD)

A pro-Palestinian student group at Columbia University that posted the controversial 'Death to America' tweet in Farsi, which they later said the sentiment of still stands.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“To the Columbia University Students and Faculty who posted 'Death to America' — I have one message for you — Get the f--- out.”

— Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Executive and Republican Gubernatorial Candidate (Fox News)

“[B]ut the sentiment still stands.”

— Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) (New York Post)

What’s next

The controversy is likely to continue as a campaign issue, with Blakeman and other Republicans seeking to hold Hochul and other Democratic leaders accountable for what they view as a failure to address anti-American sentiment on college campuses.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing tensions between pro-Palestinian activism and concerns over anti-American extremism, with the Republican candidate Blakeman seizing on the controversy to attack the Democratic leadership in New York.