Trump Reflects on Lindsey Graham’s January 6 Remarks While Praising Their Longtime Alliance

President Donald Trump reflected on his relationship with Senator Lindsey Graham during a recent television appearance, recalling what he described as the senator’s only major disagreement with him while otherwise praising their long political partnership.

Speaking on Fox News Sunday, Trump said he viewed Graham very positively overall but remembered one moment that stood out. According to Trump, the senator briefly distanced himself following the events of January 6 before later reconsidering his remarks.

Trump recalled that Graham publicly declared he had reached his limit after the Capitol riot. However, Trump claimed the senator contacted him about 40 minutes later and questioned whether he had actually made those comments. Trump said Graham later walked back his earlier position.

Describing the incident, Trump joked that he would give Graham “99.9 instead of 100,” suggesting that this was the only moment in their relationship that he viewed as a setback.

Although Trump and Graham later became close political allies, their relationship began with significant disagreements during the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

At the time, Graham openly criticized Trump and argued that he was not suited for the presidency. Their differences became even more public after Trump made controversial comments about the military service of the late Senator John McCain, who had spent years as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. McCain was a close friend of Graham, making the remarks especially personal for the South Carolina senator.

The dispute intensified further when Trump publicly shared Graham’s personal cellphone number. Graham responded by posting a widely shared video in which he destroyed several flip phones, turning the incident into a memorable political moment.

As the 2016 election campaign continued, Graham remained highly critical of Trump’s candidacy. He compared Trump’s rise to the Republican nomination to “being shot in the head” and announced that he would not support him in the general election that year.

Despite those early clashes, the relationship between the two Republican leaders changed considerably over time. Graham eventually became one of Trump’s strongest allies, frequently supporting his administration and many of its policy priorities throughout Trump’s first term in office.

That close political partnership faced another challenge after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In the immediate aftermath, Graham publicly stated, “All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough,” signaling a temporary break with Trump.

Trump’s latest comments revisited that brief period of disagreement while emphasizing that he ultimately viewed Graham as a loyal ally. By describing the January 6 episode as Graham’s “one bad moment,” Trump suggested that he believes the senator’s later support outweighed their earlier differences.

The remarks also highlighted how a relationship that once included sharp political attacks, public disputes, and strong criticism eventually evolved into one of the most prominent alliances within the Republican Party.

Sources

• Fox News
• Official statements and public remarks aired during Fox News Sunday