Appearing on Fox News’ Hannity Monday night, the South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham unleashed a blistering verbal assault on Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, after Martin drew a grotesque and un-American comparison.
Martin had likened Iranians risking their lives against what he called a “far-right theocratic regime that crushes dissent” to protesters in the United States following the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good — a comparison that instantly ignited outrage..
“Ken Martin is a worthless piece of crap. Can you imagine this guy fighting for freedom?” Graham said on air. “To compare President Trump and the Trump regime to the ayatollah means you’ve got the worst case of Trump Derangement Syndrome in the world. Go to hell!”
Graham pointed out that Trump has done what no American president has done since the 1979 Iranian revolution: publicly side with the Iranian people instead of appeasing the ayatollahs.
“President Trump is standing with people demanding their freedom. Why are these people in the streets this long? They believe Trump has their back. President Trump said, ‘If they come after you, they gotta go through me.’”
Graham warned that history shows exactly what happens when America signals weakness.
“If you thought Afghanistan was a debacle, it was. The only thing worse would be to entice people out into the streets against a brutal dictator and pull the plug on them.”
The senator also blasted Democrats who continue to push diplomatic fantasies involving Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“To anybody at the White House who thinks the ayatollah would honor a deal to give up his nuclear ambition, you’re a fool! Donald Trump is not a fool.”
Graham argued the Iranian uprising exists in part because Trump drew a clear line — and the people heard it.
“These people are out in the street because they believe in Trump. He’s the first president since 1979 to pick the people over the ayatollah, and the leader of the Democratic Party, you’re sick, pal.”
He then widened the attack, accusing Democrats of siding with America’s enemies while undermining potential allies — all out of spite toward Trump.
“Where are the Democrats? You cheer on Hamas who wants to kill the Jews. Now you got people in Iran like the crown prince who want to be our friend, but because it may happen on Trump’s watch, you’re belittling the movement.”
Graham emphasized the stakes could not be higher.
“These people are dying by the thousands. We are Americans. You know, if this regime falls, we’re safer, we’re more prosperous, we’ll take down the largest state sponsor of terrorism. Trump is Reagan. He’s not Obama, he’s not Ken Martin.”
While firmly rejecting endless wars, Graham argued that decisive action is still necessary — and overdue.
“No boots on the ground, but this needs to end, and you know what we should do? We should attack the infrastructure that allows the killing to happen. The people in charge of the killing should go. The infrastructure should go. I’m not advocating invading the country, but I am advocating not doing an Afghanistan here.”
Host Sean Hannity closed the segment by reinforcing what Trump supporters have long believed: strength without surrender.
“I can tell you, I know Donald Trump pretty well. There will be no boots on the ground, there will be no forever wars, it will be a surgical strike, and it will stop the slaughter and it will be effective.”
— thedailybs w/ Snerdley (@thedailybs_Bo) January 13, 2026
