Iranians across the globe have launched a viral trend performing President Donald Trump's signature "YMCA" dance to celebrate the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Videos show groups in Los Angeles, Times Square, and other locations swaying hips, pumping fists, and mimicking Trump's rally moves while thanking him for the strikes that eliminated the 86-year-old supreme leader.

One video featured a woman declaring, "I am an Iranian, and this is the best day of my life. The dictator, the killer, Ali Khamenei is dead," before dancing enthusiastically. Clips have amassed millions of views on X and other platforms, with participants from Iranian-American communities leading the phenomenon. Similar celebrations erupted near the White House.

Khamenei died on February 28, 2026, at 8:10 a.m. local time when Israeli jets dropped 30 bombs on his Tehran residence during a joint U.S.-Israeli operation backed by CIA and Canadian intelligence. The strike was part of broader attacks amid the 2026 Iran conflict, killing several family members, including his wife, who succumbed to injuries on Monday, along with top officials like IRGC commander Mohammad Pakpour and defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh.

Iranian state media confirmed the death on March 1, announcing 40 days of mourning. Inside Iran, reactions were polarized: crowds celebrated in the streets of Tehran, Isfahan, and other cities, toppling statues in some areas, while mourners gathered elsewhere and security forces fired on revelers.

A three-person interim Leadership Council comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, judiciary head Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and cleric Alireza Arafi assumed control pending selection by the Assembly of Experts. The IRGC wields significant influence amid the leadership vacuum.

President Trump hailed the killing as "justice" for victims of Iran, labeling Khamenei "one of the most evil people in history" and warning of continued strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrated the outcome. Iran's interim leaders vowed retaliation.