Sen Rand Paul says Trump is under the ‘thrall of Lindsey Graham’ after Venezuela

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said President Donald Trump was in “Lindsey Graham’s thrall” following the U.S. operation in Venezuela, according to audio of the lawmaker’s remarks that MeidasTouch’s Acyn Torabi posted on X.

Paul said that after the first presidential debate in 2016, the Trump family told him they liked him and liked “the idea of ​​not being involved in foreign wars.”

“That’s something I liked about Donald Trump,” Paul said. “That was one of the things, whenever I had doubts about anything else, I always came back and said, ‘Well, he’s the best we’ve ever had.’ Much better than the Bushes, who were war mad and wanted to be involved in all these crazy foreign wars… “We’re going to make the world safe for democracy.” » I never liked any of that. And I thought Trump was different, so that disappoints me, but he’s under the influence of Lindsey Graham.”

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Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks with reporters at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Paul called Trump’s decision to unilaterally impeach Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro “dismissive” without seeking congressional approval for the attack.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a hawkish Republican from South Carolina, strongly supported the president’s action.

“This is Lindsey Graham. Lindsey Graham contacted the president who expressed – I saw a clip – there’s about 20 clips of [Trump] saying he is not for regime change and that regime change has always gone wrong. Somehow they convinced him that it’s different if it’s in our hemisphere,” Paul told reporters Monday, according to The Hill.

Torabi also posted audio to

Graham was with Trump during a recent huddle aboard Air Force One.

Schumer blasted Trump for failing to oust Maduro – now warns his arrest could lead to ‘endless war’

President Donald Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speak to the media aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, D.C., January 4, 2026. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The senator also recently posted a photo on

Graham donned such a cap during an appearance on Fox News Channel.

VENEZUELA ORDERS NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR SUPPORTERS AFTER MADURO ARREST BY US FORCES

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., gives a thumbs up as President Donald Trump holds a “MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN” hat. (@LindseyGrahamSC on X)

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Trump endorsed Graham for re-election last year.