Lawmakers join lighting cigarette with burning Khamenei portrait trend

• Social media users worldwide recreate protest imagery from Iran by lighting cigarettes with photos of Ali Khamenei.
• US lawmakers including Rep. Claudia Tenney and Sen. Tim Sheehy have shared the trend.
• Symbol originated from Iranian women-led demonstrations against repression and economic hardship.

A provocative social media trend is spreading rapidly, showing people around the world lighting cigarettes from burning photographs of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The imagery, originally from Iranian protests, has quickly become a viral symbol of defiance.

The trend traces back to late 2025 protests in Iran, where women played a central role in challenging political repression and social restrictions. Videos from the demonstrations showed women using the burning photos in acts of symbolic rebellion, a gesture now shared widely online.

An Iranian girl burns a picture of Ayatollah Khamenei and lights her cigarette, a new trend in Iran!

Young Iranian women are leading the revolution against the Islamic regime.

pic.twitter.com/UIFYHMPBGA

— Dr. Maalouf ‏ (@realMaalouf) January 10, 2026

Global participation has surged, with ordinary users replicating the act on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram. Some public figures and US politicians have joined in, drawing attention to the trend. Rep. Claudia Tenney, representing New York’s 24th District, and Sen. Tim Sheehy, Montana’s US Senator, are among those who have shared posts referencing the imagery, amplifying its reach.

smoke ‘em if you got ‘em#FreeIran https://t.co/y26YLLG9vI pic.twitter.com/z08dUjNXgQ

— Rep. Claudia Tenney (@RepTenney) January 13, 2026

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. #Iran https://t.co/vvBjCKDCcs pic.twitter.com/x3DfiMonqw

— Tim Sheehy (@TimSheehyMT) January 11, 2026

The viral trend has sparked debate online. Supporters argue it raises awareness of the ongoing struggles in Iran and expresses solidarity with protesters. Critics warn that replicating the imagery in other countries risks trivializing the real dangers faced by demonstrators on the ground.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em. #Iran https://t.co/WToq4UGFIr pic.twitter.com/zQHzjL6tDl

— Elham (@elham_shbn) January 12, 2026

Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!

YAF stands with the Iranian Freedom Fighters and the people of Iran.@yaf @_YAFreedom #FreeIran #FreeIran2026 #freedom pic.twitter.com/Wbbk2DdmB5

— University of Alabama YAF (@uaYAF) January 13, 2026

As the protests continue in Iran, the imagery of burning Khamenei photos, often used to light cigarettes, remains one of the most shared and striking visual symbols, capturing global attention and sparking conversation across social media platforms.

At the same time, the trend has prompted counter-reactions on social media. Some users expressed solidarity with Iran by recreating the same imagery but replacing Khamenei’s portrait with photos of former US President Donald Trump.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.#لبیک_یا_خامنه_ای https://t.co/qbVAgPjxV2 pic.twitter.com/6gjbQtMGpA

— حسين سالم - Hussein Salem (@Hussein__Salem) January 14, 2026

These posts, shared largely by pro-Iranian activists and accounts critical of U.S. foreign policy, framed the act as a response to what they described as Western double standards and political interference. The parallel imagery has further fueled online debate, underscoring how the trend has been reinterpreted by different audiences to convey opposing political messages.

Protests in Iran began in late 2025, driven by economic challenges, rising inflation, and public dissatisfaction with political restrictions. Demonstrators, including large numbers of women, have participated in rallies and other acts of protest across multiple cities.

Authorities have at times responded with security measures and restrictions. The use of burning images of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been documented in the demonstrations and has also appeared on social media, becoming widely shared content linked to the ongoing unrest.