Lindsey Graham Blames Obama, Biden for Bondi Beach Massacre, Calls Attack Part of a 'Religious War'

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Monday linked last weekend's mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia, to policies of former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, calling the attack part of a broader "religious war." The shooting left 15 people dead and deeply shocked both Australian and international communities.

Australian authorities identified the attackers as father and son Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. Officials said the pair were motivated by the Islamic State to target Jews and that the father was killed at the scene. During the attack, a bystander who officials say is Muslim wrestled a firearm away from one of the gunmen.

Australian security officials reported that the Akrams had reportedly traveled to the Philippines, where they received what investigators described as "military-style training." Naveed Akram is alleged to have ties to members of a pro-Islamic State network in Australia, including a spiritual leader and a youth recruiter.

Graham's Comments on Fox News

Appearing on Fox News' Hannity, Graham angrily said former presidents "have a lot to do with this" and framed the violence as part of a conflict with "radical Islam." He also rejected tighter gun control as an effective response and criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for recognizing a Palestinian state.

"We're fighting radical Islam," Graham said. "There's a form of Islam out there that requires the people who practice it to kill all the Jews, to kill us as Christians, and to purify Islam. We're in a religious war with radical Islam… Gun control is not the answer in fighting ISIS. That doesn't get you anything but dead. ISIS is a terrorist group that was kicked out by Al Qaeda because they're too crazy for Al Qaeda!"

Graham also claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Australia that recognizing a Palestinian state after October 7 would endanger Jewish communities, and he blamed the foreign policy decisions of both Barack Obama and Joe Biden for creating the conditions that, in his view, enabled groups like ISIS.

"Gun control's not the answer. Obama and Biden have a lot to do with this. I blame the terrorists, but Obama allowed ISIS to come about when he withdrew from Iraq... And the dumbass Biden, the biggest dumbass on the planet, withdrew from Afghanistan, obliterated our borders, and rejoined the Iran nuclear agreement, making the ayatollah flush with cash."

Fact Check and Context

Several of Graham's assertions are disputed or incorrect. Fact checks note that President Biden did not formally rejoin the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), which was negotiated under the Obama administration and from which the United States withdrew during President Donald Trump's term. Analysts also say links between foreign policy decisions and isolated acts of terrorism are complex and widely debated.

Australian leaders and investigators are focusing on the attack's domestic and international security links while also considering policy responses. Australia has historically tightened gun laws after mass shootings; some officials have indicated they may review firearm regulations following this attack, although others warn against drawing immediate policy conclusions while investigations continue.

Video of Graham's comments aired on Fox News. This report first appeared on Mediaite and has been updated for clarity and accuracy.