President Trump said Monday that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham had just one notable failing in their relationship: the South Carolina Republican’s public break with him on the Senate floor after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Graham, 71, died suddenly Saturday night from an apparent aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease. Speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Trump described their long alliance and singled out that episode as Graham’s sole misstep.
“He had one bad moment, and that was on the Jan. 6 thing when he stood up (and said), ‘All right, now I’ve had it. That’s it. I can’t do it anymore,’” Trump told the program. “Then he called me like about 40 minutes later, and he said, ‘Did I really say that? I can’t believe it.’ And he took it back.”
Graham’s criticism came after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and disrupted the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 Electoral College victory.
In remarks that day, Graham said, “Trump and I, we’ve had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. Oh my God, I hate it. From my point of view, he’s been a consequential president… All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.”
By May 21, Graham had returned to Trump’s side, telling reporters that Republicans could not grow without the former president.
Trump, in the Monday interview, said he ultimately gave Graham “a 99 instead of a 100” because of the January episode but stressed the strength of their friendship afterward.
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The two men’s relationship dated back years. Graham sought the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and warned that nominating Trump would destroy the GOP. After dropping out, however, Graham and Trump became close allies.
Graham emerged as one of Trump’s most consistent supporters in the Senate on issues including judges, foreign policy, and elections.
Trump reflected on that arc during the interview. “Once that ended, he’d left the race, and once that ended, I became really good friends with him,” he said.
Graham’s death has drawn statements from across the political spectrum. He had served in the Senate since 2003 and previously in the House.
Known for his work on national security and immigration, he was a leading voice on U.S. support for Ukraine and other allies.
Reports indicated Graham complained of feeling unwell hours before his death but had joked, “I can’t die now.”
The White House and congressional leaders marked the senator’s passing with formal statements. Trump’s comments on Fox marked his most extended public remarks on Graham since the news broke.
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The president’s appearance came amid other developments in his administration, including tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and upcoming congressional appearances by Supreme Court justices.
Graham’s body was expected to lie in state or receive other honors in South Carolina and Washington in the coming days. Funeral arrangements were pending as of Monday.
Trump’s recounting of the Jan. 6 phone call offered a rare personal glimpse into the private dynamics between the two men.
Graham had been one of the few senators to maintain a consistent, if sometimes complicated, relationship with Trump through two impeachments, the 2020 election challenge, and the Capitol attack.
Graham’s Senate seat will now trigger a special election in South Carolina under state law. Republican Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to appoint an interim successor.
The death has prompted reflection on Graham’s career, which spanned more than two decades in Congress. He leaves behind a record that includes work on criminal justice reform, veterans’ issues, and repeated pushes for bipartisan deals that often stalled.
