Trump addresses Syria, Brown, Sydney attacks
At a White House Christmas reception on Dec. 14, 2025, President Donald Trump offered condolences after the Brown University shooting in Providence, labeled the Sydney, Australia Hanukkah attack anti‑Semitic, and said ISIS—not the Syrian government—was responsible for an attack in Syria that killed U.S. personnel. He cited two dead and nine injured at Brown and referenced at least 11 dead and 29 injured in Sydney.
📌 Key Facts
- Event: White House remarks by President Trump on Dec. 14, 2025
- Brown University: 2 killed, 9 injured; person of interest in custody
- Sydney: at least 11 killed, 29 injured at a Hanukkah celebration; Trump called it anti‑Semitic
- Syria: Trump blamed ISIS and said the Syrian government fought alongside U.S. forces
📊 Relevant Data
Anti-Semitic incidents in Australia increased from 495 in 2023 to 2,062 in 2024, and remained high at 1,654 in 2025, with breakdowns including 24 physical assaults, 33 vandalism incidents, and 621 verbal abuses in 2025.
ECAJ Report on Anti-Jewish Incidents in Australia 2025 — Executive Council of Australian Jewry
Between 1982 and August 2025, out of 155 mass shootings in the US, 84 were carried out by White shooters (54%), 26 by Black shooters (17%), 12 by Latino shooters (8%), 10 by Asian shooters (6%), compared to approximate US population demographics of 58% White, 13% Black, 19% Hispanic, and 6% Asian.
Mass shootings by shooter’s race U.S. 2025 — Statista
Mass shooting perpetrators in the US from 1966 to 2025 are overwhelmingly male (95.3%), with an average age of 34.4 years, and a majority White (55%).
Mass Shooting Factsheet — Rockefeller Institute of Government
ISIS cells carried out 12 attacks in SDF-controlled areas in Syria since early 2025, contributing to ongoing counter-ISIS operations.
ISIS cells carry out 12 attacks in SDF-controlled areas since early 2025 — Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"The WSJ opinion argues that the Bondi Beach shooting exposed Australia's dangerous complacency—warning that idyllic places can be sites of political violence and urging a sober reassessment of security, social attitudes and preparedness."