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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., never wanted President Donald Trump to be nominated, let alone win the presidency in 2016.
“If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed…….and we will deserve it,” Graham said on X at the time.
Graham had run on the same ticket as Trump, and like many other Republicans on the debate stage, challenged Trump’s candidacy as preposterous — he once likened his candidacy to ‘being shot in the head.'”
LINDSEY GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO ROSE FROM SMALL-TOWN ROOTS TO GOP POWER BROKER, DIES AT 71
President Donald Trump gestures as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., addresses the crowd during a 2024 election campaign event in Columbia, S.C., on Jan. 28, 2023. (Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images)
But Trump ultimately clinched the nomination, took the White House and eventually won over Graham.
Now, in the fast-moving hours after Graham’s sudden death at 71 years old, and as private jockeying to fill his empty seat takes place behind the scenes, Trump has lost a once-fierce political enemy turned friend.
Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he had just spoken with Graham the night before and believed “It could have been his last call.”
“I don’t know exactly, but I got a message about 1:00 in the morning from one of the people in his office that he had passed away. I said, ‘I just can’t believe it,’” Trump said. “He was like a member of the family to me. It’s very tough, actually.”
It wasn’t always that way for Trump. He once told a crowd in South Carolina nine years ago that Graham was a “disgrace,” and “one of the dumbest human beings I’ve ever seen.”
TRUMP REVEALS DETAILS OF FINAL PHONE CALL WITH GRAHAM AFTER SENATOR’S DEATH, CALLS LOSS ‘BIG BLOW’ TO SAVE ACT
“I don’t think he could run for dogcatcher in this state and win again,” Trump said at the time. “I really don’t. Other than that, I think he’s wonderful.”
Still, their relationship evolved from potshots online and on the debate stage into steadfast friends who weren’t shy about hitting the golf course.
Graham transformed into one of Trump’s most vocal allies in the Senate and a key bridge from the upper chamber to the White House during Trump’s second term — even after Graham believed Trump should never step foot in the White House.
After winning his primary for the GOP nomination in June, Trump was almost top of mind for Graham.
“I want to thank the big guy, God,” Graham said during a speech last month. “Trump comes later. Mr. President, you’re not far behind God, but we’re going to start with him.”
GRAHAM’S DEATH IGNITES GOP SCRAMBLE FOR SENATE SEAT AS TRUMP HINTS HE ALREADY HAS A FAVORITE
Donald Trump and Lindsey Graham pose for a picture on a golf course on June 28, 2025. (Sen. Lindsey Graham via X)
But that reverence, be it political or sincere, took time. Years ago, Trump at one point grew so angry at Graham that he leaked the lawmaker’s phone number online, which prompted Graham to make a show of destroying several of his phones.
And after the Jan. 6, 2021, riots on Capitol Hill, Graham turned his back on Trump.
“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,” Graham said on the Senate floor as the vote to certify the election neared. “All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.”
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In the run-up to and during Trump’s second term, Graham became a fierce ally of Trump’s.
He led the vanguard for the “one, big beautiful bill,” as Senate Budget Committee chair and has championed Trump’s flagship election integrity legislation, the SAVE America Act.
And in the hallways of the Senate during the last year and a half, you’d often hear Graham say he’d just spoken with Trump or was headed to the White House to hammer out a legislative dispute — be it with Democrats standing in the way or Republicans.
Now, after a rocky, explosive and tight-knit journey together, the road has run out.
“I said, ‘We’ll see you soon,’” Trump recalled of his last call with Graham. “Come over anytime you want. He came into the White House, because I liked him. Can’t do that with everybody.”
