On February 8, 2019, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivered a speech on the 40th anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution. The speech aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV. Khamenei said that the Americans are the epitome of evil and that they complain that the Iranian people chant “Death to America.”

Khamenei added that “Death to America means death to Trump, John Bolton, and Pompeo. It means death to the leaders. We don’t care about the American public.” He continued: “As long as the American government and regime continue with their evil actions and vile and despicable interference, the Iranian people will not stop chanting: “Death to America.” The audience, members of the Iranian air force, replied with the chant, “Allah Akbar!… Death to those who oppose the Rule of the Jurisprudent! Death to America! Death to England! Death to the hypocrites and evil ones! Death to Israel!”