MSNBC host Ayman Mohyeldin described recent anti-Israel campus protests as “advocating for peace,” even as video evidence and arrests suggest otherwise. Mohyeldin’s remarks aired as part of a segment defending demonstrators, but omitted key facts about protest leaders endorsing terrorism and calling for Israel’s destruction.
These comments follow the MSNBC host’s previous defense of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Jordanian national who was recently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while en route to a citizenship interview in Vermont.
Authorities say Mahdawi openly praised the October 7 terror attack and eulogized a commander from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, a U.S.-designated terrorist group. The Columbia University Palestinian Students Union president also helped organize campus protests demanding Columbia sever ties with Israel and reportedly blocked Jewish students’ access to campus areas.
In previous Instagram posts, Mahdawi referred to the efforts of members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigade, a group responsible for the slaughter of 1,200 Israelis, as a “sacrifice” and “a gift for the victory of Gaza.” During an interview in December, Mahdawi told 60 Minutes he “can empathize” with Hamas.
The disconnect in Mohyeldin’s portrayal of such actors and demonstrations as misunderstood and peaceful reveals a larger trend of media figures defending increasingly radical campus movements. The Free Beacon compiled video evidence directly contradicting MSNBC’s downplaying of violent campus protests, showing students defending Hamas and echoing its slogans.
Critics argue that this media spin emboldens protesters by shielding them from public accountability. At Columbia, Jewish students reported being harassed, threatened, and physically blocked from entering campus buildings. Despite these incidents, university administrators and mainstream outlets continue to portray the movement as rooted in nonviolence and advocacy for Palestinian rights. However, as one observer stated, “You don’t get to call it peace when you’re cheering for Hamas.”
