Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios on HBO that Donald Trump has a “dark side”, but he tries to “take advantage of the magic” because he was successful where Republican candidates like John McCain and Mitt Romney failed.
Why does it matter: The South Carolina Republican oscillates between support and criticism of the former president, even after Trump harshly criticized McCain – Graham’s longtime friend – and helped trigger the Capitol insurrection.
- “What I’m trying to do is just enjoy the magic,” Graham told Jonathan Swan of Axios. “For me, Donald Trump is a kind of cross between Jesse Helms, Ronald Reagan and PT Barnum.”
- “He could make the Republican Party something that no one else I know can do. It can make it bigger. It can make it stronger. It can make it more diverse. And it could also destroy it,” he said. Graham.
The big picture: Graham was re-elected in November in one of the most expensive political disputes in American history. This helps to explain his acceptance of Trump, which is extremely popular with the Republican base, but also confuses those who wonder why he remains with him.
- In 2016, when they were competing for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination, Graham questioned Trump’s mental aptitude.
- After Trump defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton, Graham embraced the new president, despite him criticizing his former companion McCain for becoming a prisoner of war in Vietnam.
- The day after the Capitol siege, Graham blamed Trump for fueling the attack and declared, “Enough.”
- Now, Graham says he is re-engaging on purpose.
What they are saying: “Donald Trump was my friend before the turmoil. And I’m trying to maintain a relationship with him after the turmoil. I still consider him a friend. What happened was a dark day in American history, and let’s move on.”
- “I want us to continue with the policies that I think will make the United States strong. I believe the best way for the Republican Party to do that is with Trump, not without Trump.”
- “Mitt Romney did not do that. John McCain did not do that. There is something about Trump. There is a dark side and there is some magic there.”
Flashback: When Swan noted that Trump was showing no remorse for his election challenge and still arguing that he won overwhelmingly, Graham invoked McCain.
- “I say (Trump) every day that he wants to hear that I think the main reason he probably lost in Arizona was hitting the dead guy named John McCain,” said the senator.