Columbia University Activist Mahmoud Khalil in Rally to Celebrate His Release from ICE Detention: I Did Nothing Wrong; U.S. Government Is a Killing Machine; Israel Is the Top Threat to U.S. Foreign Po

Memri

23-06-2025

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist released from ICE detention, spoke at a rally held in his honor on June 22, 2025. Khalil declared that 'there isn't a shred of evidence that what I did or said is wrong,' and called the U.S. government a 'killing machine.' Responding to allegations that his speech undermines 'U.S. foreign policy on combating antisemitism,' he said that Israel is 'the top foreign policy threat to the U.S.' He called it 'ironic' that such accusations were coming from Senator Marco Rubio, who he claimed 'regularly meets with new Nazis.'
Khalil also accused Columbia University of failing to protect pro-Palestinian students, saying that they have been targeted by 'Israel-aligned groups' on campus who feel emboldened to continue to harass and harm them.
Khalil, draped in a Palestinian flag, led chants against Columbia University. He stood alongside Manolo De Los Santos, executive director and founder of the People's Forum, as well as other members of the organization. Manolo De Los Santos and the People's Forum have been reported to maintain financial ties with the Chinese Communist Party.