California mayors duel on social media over law enforcement response to UC Irvine anti-Israel protests

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A Columbia University student’s microphone cuts out moments before anti-Israel rant

Video shows a Columbia University student’s microphone begin to glitch as she begins an anti-Israel rant during a commencement ceremony on Tuesday.

Two California mayors clashed on social media after law enforcement was called to confront anti-Israel agitators on the University of California, Irvine campus.

While replying to a UC Irvine public announcement to students on X, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan and Newport Beach Mayor Will O'Neill shared their competitive perspectives as law enforcement swarmed onto the California campus after protesters set up barricades.

"It’s a shame that peaceful free speech protests are always responded to with violence," Khan wrote. "Taking space on campus or in a building is not a threat to anyone."

"UCI leadership must do everything they can to avoid creating a violent scenario here. These are your students w/ zero weapons," she added.

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Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan seemingly condemned law enforcement for responding to the University of California, Irvine campus – at the request of the university – as anti-Israel protesters took over a building. (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)

Following the Irvine mayor's comments on law enforcement, the Newport Beach mayor slammed Khan's "careless wording," saying that she "preemptively accused officers" of violence. 

"Police officers from Newport Beach are currently in Irvine providing assistance at the request of a mutual aid call. Your careless wording makes it appear that you are preemptively accusing our officers, and officers from the many law enforcement agencies who responded, of violence," O'Neill replied. 

O'Neill called for the current mayor to "clarify" her message.

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"If that’s what you meant, then your message is beneath the office of Mayor. If it is not, then clarify immediately," he wrote.

Law enforcement agencies were called to respond to anti-Israel agitators taking over a building on the University of California, Irvine campus on Wednesday, May 15. (Fox News)

In a statement to Fox News Digital, O'Neill called Khan's social media post "reckless and ill-advised." 

"Mayor Khan’s preemptive insult to law enforcement agencies responding to a mutual aid call was reckless and ill-advised.  Accusing our police officers - and the officers of many responding agencies - of 'violence' is beneath her office as Mayor," O'Neill said. "I have sought clarification or an apology to our police department from her, but received no response."

"Her words, though, will not stop the Newport Beach Police Department from providing mutual aid to the good residents of Irvine in the event that assistance is required again. Our Newport Beach Police Department answers the call and I’m proud of them," he said.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators confront police as they clear an encampment at the University of California, Irvine, in Irvine, California on May 15, 2025.  (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

The dueling comments came after UC Irvine was swarmed by anti-Israel agitators on Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a UC Irvine spokesperson said that the campus erupted into chaos after several hundreds of protesters entered the Physical Sciences Lecture Hall and began to barricade the building at 2:30 p.m. PST.

Several hundred anti-Israel protesters entered the Physical Sciences Lecture Hall at UC Irvine on Wednesday and began barricading themselves inside, despite the university demanding that they leave the area. (REUTERS/Mike Blake)

The university said that it put out a call to local law enforcement and received immediate assistance from the Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

At least one protester was seen being arrested in livestream footage of the anti-Israel agitators' confrontation with police.

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Authorities said that the protesters who entered the campus on Wednesday afternoon joined the established encampment that has been occupying the campus since April 29.

Editor's note: This article has been updated for clarity.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Khan for comment.