Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who died on Saturday, will be remembered as one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in the Senate.

But that wasn’t always the case.

In 2015, when Graham was among several people running against Trump in the Republican presidential primary, he made it pretty clear that he wasn’t a fan of the reality TV host and real estate mogul.

After Trump insulted then-Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Graham ― who was close with McCain ― told him to “stop being a jackass.”

He also frequently attacked Trump on social media.

“Trump has no idea what the world is actually like and is not qualified to be Commander in Chief,” Graham wrote in August of that year.

One month later, he added: “Donald Trump gets his foreign policy from watching television – the Cartoon Network.”

Graham dropped out of the presidential race in December 2015, but his criticism of Trump only intensified.

And in May of that year, he wrote one of his most-remembered comments on social media ― one that was shared anew after his death at the age of 71:

Following Trump’s 2016 election victory, Graham became a reliable Senate ally. But he soured on Trump again on Jan. 6, 2021, after the president’s loyalists ― riled up by his unproven allegations of election fraud ― attacked the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the vote.

“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 at the time. “All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough.”

Just a month later, however, Graham was no longer “out.” Instead, he celebrated Trump’s acquittal on impeachment charges, and by May, he was all in.

“Can we move forward without President Trump? The answer is no,” he said on Fox News. “I’ve determined [the Republican Party] can’t grow without him.

Lindsey Graham eventually became close friends with President Donald Trump, as seen in this January 2026 file photo about Air Force One.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Graham has become even more obsequious over the past five years. Just last month, after winning his primary, he began his victory speech with some thank-yous.

“I want to thank the big guy, God. Trump comes later,” Graham said. “Mr. President, you’re not far behind God, but we’re gonna start with him.”

He also vowed to be Trump’s “strongest ally” in the Senate.

For his part, Trump doesn’t seem to have held a grudge; Graham has often been by the president’s side at the White House, on the golf course and at Mar-a-Lago. The president also marked Graham’s death by ordering flags lowered to half-staff until Saturday evening.

Related