Lindsey Graham Defends $40 'Little Mermaid' Bubble Wand at Disney Amid Criticism Over Hawkish Rhetoric

Sen. Lindsey Graham pushed back after photos surfaced of him holding a $40 "Little Mermaid" bubble wand during a visit to Walt Disney World, saying the toy was purchased for a friend's child and criticizing theme-park prices.

The bubble wand is available for purchase at Disney's online storefront. / Disneystore.com/screenshot / Disneystore.com

What Happened

The 70-year-old Republican spent part of his spring break at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. TMZ published images showing Graham with an Ariel-themed LED "Ariel Light and Sound Bubble Wand," which retails for about $40. Graham told TMZ he paid for the wand but that it was "for a friend's girl" and that he did not know where it was after the visit. An eyewitness told TMZ the senator was holding the wand for the child while she was in the restroom.

Sen. Lindsey Graham dining at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. / TMZ

Graham's Response

"I didn't buy it for me," Graham said. "You gotta work and try to have a life too."

He also complained about the cost of park merchandise, quipping that "we need competition for bubble guns, because it was pretty high." The senator, who earns at least $174,000 a year in his Senate role, described the toy as a "gun" rather than a "wand," language that critics noted given his hawkish public record.

Senator Lindsey Graham holds a hat reading

Public Reaction

Former Fox host Megyn Kelly sharply criticized Graham for taking a vacation to a theme park while advocating aggressive action toward Iran. Her comments included strong language directed at Graham's decision to visit Disney amid heightened tensions and concern over possible troop deployments.

Context

The trip followed a meeting in South Florida with Steve Witkoff, identified in media reports as a Trump envoy to the Middle East, about the possibility of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel. During the same period, Graham made several hawkish statements about Iran on national television, including remarks on Fox News saying, "We're going to blow the hell out of these people," and that the regime was "on death row."

Graham was also photographed at Chef Mickey's, whose breakfast buffet is listed at about $59 per adult, plus tax and gratuity. Disney describes the Ariel wand as featuring LED lights, music and a hidden bubble solution compartment; the product carries positive customer ratings online.

Why It Matters

The incident drew attention because it juxtaposes a lighthearted theme-park moment with a senator's prominent role in national security debates. Critics say such images can appear tone-deaf when they follow or coincide with calls for military action. Supporters and neutral observers, meanwhile, note that public officials also take personal time away from work.