The strained relationship between US Senator Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump is leading some media outlets to say that the senior South Carolina senator shamelessly belittles himself as he seeks to stay in the fray of Trump’s voting base.
Speaking to a crowd of South Carolina GOP voters and donors in Silver Elephant Gala on Saturday Showcasing Trump as the keynote speaker, Graham warned of the consequences of crossing Trump and joked about how Trump hit him “like a drum”. Here are the senator’s remarks Trump’s event in Pickens last monthas Graham was booed for several minutes as he tried to appeal to Trump supporters.
The series of events prompted MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough to mock Graham on Monday, suggesting Graham had hit a new low.
“We found something in common,” Graham said Saturday, referring to Trump. “I’ve come to love him, and he loves him, and it gets us through 18 holes of golf.” Graham also warned the crowd to “don’t mess with (Trump), or you’ll regret it.”
“How did you manage to do that?” Scarborough asked his co-stars, laughing. “I don’t think anything is worth humiliating yourself the way Lindsey does.”
Graham’s latest remarks come Speculation surrounding a potential Republican challenger in the 2026 Republican primary, when Graham is up for re-election.
South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman, a Rock Hill Republican, is considering bidding against Graham, according to Politico, though that decision has not been officially made.
But this isn’t the first time speculation has surfaced about Graham’s ability to hold on to his seat against a challenger.
In 2020, Democrat Jaime Harrison launched a record-breaking fundraising fight against Graham, spurring reports that Graham’s chances of re-election were slim, especially in light of his continued support for former President Trump.
However, Graham won with 54% of the vote, compared to Harrison’s 44% in that race.
