Cornel West, who has previously run for president as an independent and identifies as a democratic socialist, is facing criticism from the left after he posted a video expressing support for the Iranian protest movement.
The video gained over 1 million views on Wednesday and encouraged his “comrades” to remain “morally consistent” in opposition to repression. This sparked debate about his views and credibility from within his own political circles.
In the video, West stated, “Long live the Iranian revolution. The heroic and courageous struggle of the precious Iranian people for 46 years in the face of overwhelming brutality and atrocities.” He also condemned those who see the Iranian protesters as mere pawns in an ideological struggle.
Long live the Iranian revolution — 2026
“May justice flow down like water…”#truthjusticelove pic.twitter.com/zQgm2pNAVE— Cornel West (@CornelWest) January 14, 2026
West criticized both right and left political factions, claiming the former exhibits hypocrisy while the latter treats the Iranian struggle as a tool for their own domestic agendas.
“These are right-wingers who claim that somehow American imperialism is okay abroad and fascism justified at home, and who claim to stand in solidarity with the heroic struggle against oppression,” he remarked. He expressed disappointment in the left for failing to appreciate the severity of repression and for viewing Iranians as mere pawns.
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., he advocated for justice to “flow down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” West highlighted ongoing violence in Gaza and related struggles in other areas like Venezuela and Haiti, questioning whether we can genuinely support all oppressed peoples or simply play political games.
Nick Cruz, co-founder of the Revolutionary Blackout Network, criticized West’s stance as “bullshit,” questioning his authority to silence voices of Iranians who back the government. He suggested that West overlooks potential foreign influences in the protests.
Why don’t you say anything about all the Iranians who rallied in support of the government?
What gives you the right to silence their voices? Why are we ignoring the violence of protesters?
you know exactly what you’re doing. Imperialist dog. Please come…— Nick Cruz 🥋 (@SocialistMMA) January 14, 2026
The backlash against West highlights divisions within the American left, particularly between those who prioritize support for popular uprisings and others who view movements opposed to U.S. adversaries as suspect.
Critics of West represent an “anti-imperialist” perspective, defending foreign governments against perceived Western intervention. Comedian Jimmy Dore accused West of being disconnected from reality, implying he serves as a mouthpiece for U.S. interests rather than genuine activism.
Is it possible that you’ve lived in an ivory tower all your adult life and you’re so out of touch that you don’t realize that you’re a mouthpiece for Mossad and the CIA, orchestrating another regime-change war?
The only other explanation is that you know exactly what you’re doing. https://t.co/gPlkUhzut5— Jimmy Dore (@jimmy_dore) January 14, 2026
Another voice in the discussion, Danny Haiphong, an advocate for China and Russia, asserted that the protests are misguided. He claimed that the Iranian revolution of 1979 should still be acknowledged and criticized the U.S. for its historical role in causing suffering in such movements.
The Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin-Mao Zedong Institute called West “another imperialist clown” and expressed disapproval of his stance.
