Praising foreign dictators on state-controlled television once would have resulted in social ostracism—let alone disqualification from political circles. That era has vanished.
The shift accelerated following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack that killed over 1,200 innocent Israelis. American activists have since targeted flags on campus quads, vandalized synagogues, and called for intifadas in Manhattan streets. Yet even against this backdrop, the latest developments represent a stark departure: Calla Walsh, a 22-year-old who volunteered for Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign, recently praised Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei as “the greatest anti-imperialist leader” to have lived during her lifetime.
Walsh appeared on Iran’s state-run PressTV after attending Khamenei’s funeral, wearing a hijab and traditional attire. She lauded him as a hero who fought against America and Israel, stating: “He was a leader to all people of the world who struggle against imperialism, arrogance, against Zionism, against genocide.” “To me, he was the greatest anti-imperialist leader to have lived during my lifetime,” she added.
Walsh’s actions are particularly troubling given her background. She worked on Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s campaign and held leadership roles in the Democratic Socialists of America. Democratic circles celebrated her activism from age 14. The daughter of a Boston University English professor and a Harvard writing teacher, Walsh attended prep school—every privilege this nation offers. Her “recompense,” as critics note, was traveling to Tehran to honor Khamenei, who funneled billions to Hamas and other terrorist groups.
In a July interview on Iranian state television, Walsh declared: “It’s still fair to say that the U.S. has been more humiliated than it has ever been before in its history.” This rhetoric follows a pattern of escalating radicalism. In 2023, she was arrested for vandalizing an Israeli company office and promoted the Mapping Project—a database listing nearly 500 Massachusetts institutions linked to Jewish communities. She also posted that “there is no ‘peaceful solution’ under military occupation,” a thinly veiled endorsement of violence.
Khamenei’s regime has been responsible for severe human rights abuses, with estimates of 7,000 to 30,000 Iranians killed in recent protests demanding basic freedoms. Iran under Khamenei has also provided billions to Hamas and Hezbollah, aiming to destabilize Israel.
Walsh described Khamenei as “humble” and suggested his teachings could be “especially” applied in the United States. Her statements have drawn sharp criticism for their moral implications.
Warren’s office and Wu’s team remain silent on her actions. The Democratic establishment has offered no condemnation for this young activist, who represents a troubling shift in the political landscape.
