Iranians have taken to social media to share videos of them doing the famous ‘Trump dance’ after a joint US-Israel military operation killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday.
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that the US had killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
‘Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,’ the president wrote on Truth Social.
Khamenei, the chief Islamic cleric and ruler of Iran for over 36 years since 1989, has long been an adversary of the US for decades throughout multiple presidential administrations.
His rule saw the increased Islamification of Iran and the growth of its proxy forces in Yemen, Lebanon, Gaza and beyond.
His strong religious views long unsettled the Middle East and placed Iran opposite its more western-embracing neighbors like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.
The president also used his announcement to call on Iranian citizens to stand up to the Islamic regime, saying it is ‘the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.’
Now, Iranians celebrating all over the world are publicly thanking the US president by copying his signature dance set to the song ‘YMCA’ performed at many of his rallies.
Iranians celebrating all over the world are publicly thanking the US president by copying his signature dance set to the song ‘YMCA’
The videos show jubilant crowds dancing on the streets, as well as individuals recreating the fist pumping move at home with friends
President Donald Trump, performs his ‘Trump Dance’ at a rally in 2025
The videos show jubilant crowds dancing on the streets, as well as individuals recreating the fist pumping move at home with friends.
They come amid a wave of celebrations from Iranians in major cities across the US and Europe.
Crowds have gathered in public spaces and city centers, with demonstrators waving pre-revolution Iranian flags and chanting anti-regime slogans.
In London, members of the Persian community took to North Finchley on Saturday night, with footage showing residents of the London borough blaring music from their cars and cheering, while some were seen handing out roses.
Local resident Jessica came out of her house to find a scene of literally thousands descending on Ballards Lane.
She told The Daily Mail: ‘It’s absolute mayhem, it’s pandemonium. It’s a scene of absolute jubilation.
‘People are chanting and singing. They are handing out roses to one another and Persian biscuits. It’s just joy. People are holding up pictures of the Shah, and cars are tooting in the road.
The killing of Khamenei after decades in power appeared certain to create a significant leadership vacuum, given the absence of a known successor and because the Supreme Leader had final say on all major policies.
He led Iran’s clerical establishment and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard – the two main centres of power in the governing theocracy.
Khamenei’s regime systematically targeted women – enforcing mandatory dress codes and taking control of women’s employment, mobility and legal rights, often through violence from Iran’s ‘morality police’.
In one video taken after Khamenei’s compound in Tehran was hit by an airstrike, women can be heard celebrating and cheering.
Footage shows smoke billowing into the sky above the complex as screams and giggles ring out from a nearby rooftop where onlookers watch the blast.
‘Oh my God they hit it. They struck it. Oh my God,’ one woman shouts.
The videos come amid a wave of celebrations from Iranians in major cities across the US and Europe
People around the world have been celebrating the removal of the Ayatollah through social media videos
Iranians mourn the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Valiasr Square in Tehran
Meanwhile, an official 40-day mourning period, as well as a seven-day national holiday was announced in Iran in the wake of Khamenei’s death.
During the official announcement on an Iranian state news broadcast, the anchor wore black and stifled tears during the reading of a statement from the National Supreme Council.
‘God is great. God is great. With deep sorrow, it is announced to the nation of Iran that Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, was martyred today in a joint criminal attack by the United States and the Zionist regime,’ the anchor said in a clip posted on X.
The Council described Khamenei as a revered religious Islamic figure, and said his ‘long dream of martyrdom became true.’ It was noted that Khamenei was killed during the month of Ramadan.
According to the statement, Iranians were said to be mourning the leader’s death but enemies of the country should note that ‘martyrdom will spark a massive uprising in the fight against oppressors,’ the outlet reported.
A total of 555 people have been killed across Iran since the start of the strikes that killed Khamenei and other senior leaders, the Iranian Red Crescent said Monday.
Meanwhile four US service members have been killed in action as part of US military operations against Iran.
Israel’s rescue services said nine people were killed and 28 wounded in a strike that hit a synagogue in the central town of Beit Shemesh, bringing the overall death toll in the country to 11.
Trump told Iran’s leaders to give up the fight which has exploded across the Middle East, with missiles raining down on Israel, Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, and on American military bases in the region.
‘These intolerable threats will not continue any longer. I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death,’ Trump said.
He urged the Iranian people to rise up and overthrow the Islamic regime. ‘Be brave, be bold, be heroic and take back your country,’ he said.
‘We’re undertaking this massive operation not merely to ensure security for our own time and place, but for our children and their children, just as our ancestors have done for us many, many years ago,’ the President said.
However, Iran has vowed it will never surrender as it rejected the ultimatum from Donald Trump to lay down its weapons.
Iranian national security official Ali Larijani confirmed the country will not negotiate with the US.
