GOP senator challenges Biden to clarify Hamas position after State of the Union remark

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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is asking President Biden and his administration to clarify their stance on Hamas, following Biden's State of the Union address.

In a conversation with NBC's Kristen Welker on "Meet the Press" that aired Sunday, Graham pointed to a line in the speech when Biden said about Hamas, "If you release the hostages, the war will be over."

"I literally about fell out of my seat," Graham said. "Is the president saying that if the hostages are released by Hamas, they can stay in power? That ends the conflict?" Graham noted that former President Trump, who will likely be Biden's opponent in November's election, "believes it's non-negotiable when it comes to Hamas: they have to be destroyed militarily, they can't be in charge."

"I'm challenging the Biden administration today to clear this up," Graham said. "You cannot allow Hamas to stay in power. You can't allow them to have six brigades to do October 7th again."

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Welker said Biden has stated in the past that he stands behind this position as well.

Graham also criticized Biden for "missing the boat" by focusing on what Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be doing, and not Hamas or their backer Iran.

"Israel is not killing