Social Media Influencers Invited to Lebanon for Hezbollah Leader's Funeral and "Media Conference"

American influencers who attended Nasrallah’s funeral may have potentially violated U.S. laws on material support to terrorism

From left to right, US citizens Jackson Hinkle, Haz Al-Din, and Chris Helali attending Nasrallah’s funeral. Source: X

The funeral of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the former leader of Hezbollah—a U.S.-designated terrorist organization responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American civilians—was held today in Beirut.

Thousands of Hezbollah supporters and members of the terror group were in attendance, along with foreign journalists, activists, and social media influencers. Their presence at the funeral of a man who led an organization labeled as a terrorist group by various Western countries brings into question whether they may be potentially providing material support to a designated terrorist organization.

Below is a partial list of such attendees, building off an initial list compiled and published on X by Ben Hanan (@BenHanan_). These are not obscure figures; they are prominent voices in their home countries. Their attendance, alongside numerous Hezbollah operatives and other terror-affiliated individuals and organizations, could warrant an investigation to determine whether their activities at the funeral, as well as other actions taken while in Lebanon, violate counterterrorism laws.

The Journalists and Activists Who Showed Up

• Jackson Hinkle has posted photos and videos all week, wearing Hezbollah paraphernalia and traveling through Beirut. He shared a photo of himself posing next to flags of the U.S.-designated Iran-aligned militia Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada and individuals who appear to be affiliated with the group.

• Haz Al-Din, Executive Chairman of the American Communist Party, labeled Nasrallah a “hero of revolutionary forces” in a social media post

• Chris Helali, Secretary of the American Communist Party and social studies teacher from Vermont, also attended the funeral. In an interview with the Hezbollah media outlet Al Mayadeen, he stated, “To be here now, the loss, of course, is smaller than the greater impact that Sayyed Nasrallah and all the martyrs will have on history.”

• Fiorella Isabel, a geopolitical analyst and member of the California Democratic Socialists of America, made social media posts documenting the location of Nasrallah’s elimination, praised the “resistance” and announced her plans to attend Nasrallah’s funeral, calling it a “historic event.”

• David Miller, producer and co-host of the Iranian government-run Press TV’s Palestine Declassified, posted images from Beirut showing posters of Hezbollah terrorists, which he referred to as "martyrs," including one of Nasrallah himself.

• Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, also attended Nasrallah’s funeral ceremony in Beirut. He stated, “We are here with a delegation from South Africa in solidarity and to show respect for our brother Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.”

• Tadhg Hickey, an Irish comedian, referred to Nasrallah as an “iconic leader” and pushed propaganda during his visit. He stated, “I wished more people in the West had the opportunity that I had to come here and visit and meet people,” framing Hezbollah and its supporters in a positive light and raising concerns over foreign influencers amplifying Hezbollah’s messaging.

• Pepe Escobar, a Brazilian journalist and geopolitical analyst, shared a photo of “Nasrallah Row,” a street lined with murals of the Hezbollah leader.

• Tara Reynor O’Grady, president of No Peace Without Justice, also attended the funeral. She described the funeral as, “absolutely the correct place to be for anybody who has a mind for resistance. She also referred to Nasrallah as "the epitome of a wonderful leader for his people"

• Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist, praised Nasrallah for “defeating the evil greatest forces of their generation” and cementing his anti-colonial legacy.

• Borut, co-founder of DD Geopolitics media outlet, described Nasrallah as “the voice of the unheard.”

• Wesam Bahrani, a supporter of the Iranian regime and an English-speaking commentator, posted a picture posing next to Hezbollah's special forces, the Radwan unit.

• Kazim al-Fartousi, spokesman for the Iran-backed Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada group in Iraq, was also present at the funeral, highlighting the broader network of alliances among U.S.-designated terrorist organizations.

Legal Exposure: Potential Terrorism Support

Under U.S. law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 2339B, providing material support to a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) is a serious federal crime. While "material support" typically includes financial assistance, training, or logistical aid, U.S. courts have also recognized that certain forms of ideological backing—such as public endorsement, advocacy, or the amplification of a terrorist group's messaging—can, in some cases, meet the threshold for criminal liability.

In this context, the actions of some attendees at the funeral went far beyond neutral observation or mere documentation. By actively promoting Hezbollah’s narrative and portraying Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah—a U.S.-designated terrorist leader—as a so-called “martyr” and hero, these individuals arguably provided ideological reinforcement to the group’s cause. Courts have previously ruled that such amplification of a terrorist organization’s propaganda can strengthen its global influence and recruitment efforts, thus constituting a form of material support.

Compounding these concerns is the fact that numerous Hezbollah operatives were in attendance at the funeral. This raises critical questions: Did these individuals interact with Hezbollah members? What was discussed? What is the nature of their relationship, if any? And importantly, who financed their travel to Lebanon for the funeral? These are not trivial concerns—any coordination or communication with a designated terrorist organization could further implicate them under U.S. counterterrorism laws.

The public comments and social media posts made by individuals featured in this article, which openly praise Hezbollah and Nasrallah, suggest that they may have crossed a critical legal boundary—from passive attendees to active promoters of a terrorist organization’s agenda. The lack of clear answers to these pressing questions should be a significant concern for law enforcement. In light of potential violations of federal law, these circumstances warrant closer scrutiny and possible investigation by relevant authorities.