Cruz and Fetterman Unite in Hating a Common 'Evil'

A Rare Moment of Bipartisanship on Antisemitism

Senators Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, and John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, found common ground in condemning antisemitism during an interview on "Hannity." The discussion highlighted a rare instance of bipartisan agreement on a pressing issue.

"I just want to commend John Fetterman for the courage he's shown… he's demonstrated extraordinary courage by calling out antisemitism within his own party. And he's done so at considerable personal cost," Sen. Cruz told host Sean Hannity.

The senators’ conversation came in the wake of the Dec. 14 Bondi Beach mass shooting in Australia, which claimed 15 lives. Authorities reported that the attack occurred as approximately 1,000 people gathered at one of the country’s most popular beaches to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah.

"What we witnessed on Bondi Beach was the latest example of this evil, and this hatred is spreading. This hatred of Israel. This hatred of Jews," Cruz said.

Fetterman described the incident as a "horrific massacre" that left 42 people hospitalized, including two police officers. One of the victims was a Holocaust survivor, according to reports.

The Democratic senator emphasized that antisemitism is an issue his party must confront, and Cruz agreed, offering strong criticisms of the deadly Bondi attack.

"It is grotesque, it is evil, and it is dangerous, and we need to stand up and face it," the Texas senator stated.

New South Wales police confirmed that two suspects, a father and son, were taken into custody. The father, 50 years old, has since died, while his 24-year-old son remains hospitalized with injuries.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese claimed the attack was motivated by "Islamic State ideology." Sen. Cruz condemned the "radical" Islamic state, stating, "Radical Islamic terrorism is at war with us. This is their objective. There is evidence that this father-son duo of murderers were affiliated with ISIS."

Ahmed al Ahmed, a 43-year-old Muslim man, was credited with disarming one of the two gunmen. His heroic act was captured in a viral video showing him wrestle the firearm from the attacker’s hands.

Ahmed has received widespread praise for his life-saving actions. Albanese called him an "Australian hero."

Israeli officials have criticized the Australian government for not adequately protecting Jewish communities amid what they describe as a surge in antisemitic incidents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responding to the shooting on X, revealed he had written a letter to Albanese four months earlier.

"I told him: 'Your policy encourages terrorism. It encourages antisemitism,’” Netanyahu wrote to X.

As their conversation expanded beyond the Bondi attack, Cruz and Fetterman also expressed agreement with President Donald Trump’s decision to destroy Iranian nuclear sites.

"The single most important foreign policy decision President Trump made in his second term was the decision to bomb the Iranian nuclear facilities," Cruz argued.

"When the Ayatollah chants death to America, I believe him," the Republican senator added. "The president, as commander-in-chief, has an obligation to keep the American people safe. Allowing the Ayatollah to acquire a nuclear weapon that he could use to murder thousands or even millions of Americans was an unacceptable risk."

Sen. Fetterman supported the bombing as an "absolutely" appropriate move.

"I believe I was the only Democrat who was actually calling for and fully supported bombing the Iranian nuclear facility," Fetterman added.

The discussion shifted to domestic concerns, including the rise in antisemitic incidents in the United States.

Fetterman criticized former President Joe Biden’s border policies as a "disaster," advocating for stricter vetting of immigrants.

"It's also reasonable to bring in people who share the kinds of values that are compatible with our values," Fetterman explained. "That is not about free speech. It's about bringing in people who want to assimilate and build their lives in our country, not becoming part of a destructive force in our nation."