ROOKE: Lindsey Graham Playing For Both Sides
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has spent recent weeks lobbying the Trump administration for an escalation of military action against Iran, changed his position Monday in a social media post.
Graham, long considered a holdover from the Republicans’ hawkish faction, is now calling on President Donald Trump to begin ending Operation Epic Fury.
“I just had a very good discussion with [the president] regarding his recent statement regarding the consequences for Iran if they do not accept an acceptable peace deal. I support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict consistent with our military objectives, but it takes two to tango,” Graham said in an X post.
He argued that success could pave the way for Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel, potentially ending the broader Arab-Israeli conflict. The senator credited Trump’s leadership for creating the conditions necessary for such an outcome.
“Keep it up, Mr. President. End the war and end the push for a historic peace agreement,” Graham added.
I just had a very good discussion with @POTUS regarding his recent statement regarding the consequences for Iran if they do not accept an acceptable peace deal.
I support diplomatic efforts to end the conflict consistent with our military objectives, but it takes two to tango.
The… https://t.co/0EgFaFwKHj
– Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 30, 2026
Yet just weeks earlier, Graham had publicly urged the Trump administration to step up strikes, including operations targeting key Iranian infrastructure such as Kharg Island, and to commit additional U.S. resources to that theater. He was arguably the face of Operation Epic Fury, on outlets like Fox News, to make his case for war, including his support for sending South Carolina troops to fight in Iran. (Subscribe to Mary Rooke’s weekly newsletter here!)
The move comes at a delicate time for Graham. A public poll for the June 9 Republican primary in South Carolina shows the outgoing president in the lead, but well short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff. As Republican challengers Mark Lynch and Paul Dans gain ground among Trump-aligned voters, Graham’s softer line on Iran could be an attempt to shore up support among primary voters wary of prolonged foreign engagements.
Graham did not directly tie his foreign policy comments to the race, but the timing fits that possibility. Additionally, both challengers used Graham’s almost psychotic obsession with sending the U.S. military to fight foreign wars as part of their campaigns against him.
The senator’s recent personal headlines have added another layer to the primary conversation. Photos have surfaced showing Graham at Disney World holding a pink bubble wand while waiting in line for Space Mountain. The images, first reported by TMZ, sparked widespread comments online. Graham then posted a photo of himself with a shotgun, apparently to portray a more masculine Southern character.
Sen. Lindsey Graham poses with shotgun amid backlash over Disney photos https://t.co/LCqvpK1ywM pic.twitter.com/laBHCLoJSX
-TMZ (@TMZ) March 31, 2026
Graham has long faced unsubstantiated rumors about his personal life, including speculation about his sexuality. (He denied allegations that he was gay in 2018). Graham has always presented himself as a single person focused on public service. (ROOKE: Leave it to the ladies of “The View” to give the worst advice to young Americans)
Although it seems like an abrupt change of heart in his love affair with war, Graham’s decision to call for a “cessation” of U.S. military action in Iran is the right decision as U.S. support for Operation Epic Fury continues to weaken. And no one likes to end up at the bottom.
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