South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham is warning his party anew what they should do regarding former President Donald Trump heading into the next few election cycles.
Namely, Graham says the party ought to be embracing him, not retreating from him or shunning his political advice.
According to Newsmax, the South Carolina Republican
…on Sunday advised Republicans not to cross former President Donald Trump like Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., did by voting with 13 other Republicans to allow Democrats a process to raise the debt ceiling.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Graham said “in the end, we did not make [Democrats] use reconciliation” to raise the debt ceiling — an issue Trump has been adamant about, hammering McConnell last week for not using the debt ceiling “to get rid of Build Back Worse.”
“You have to have a working relationship with Donald Trump or it will not work,” Graham said.
“I like Senator McConnell but Republicans voted against this and every House Republican but one voted against it,” Graham said of the Democrats’ debt ceiling maneuver. “We promised one thing but delivered another. That was a mistake.”
“The Democrats caused this problem, they need to fix it,” Graham insisted.
“It’s really not about the process as much as it’s about keeping your word. We let a lot of people down,” he added.
“Sen. McConnell has been a great leader on many things but we are going into an election cycle with the wind at our back,” Graham noted further.
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“But when you look forward to this party, Donald Trump is the most consequential Republican in the entire history of the Republican party, maybe besides Ronald Reagan. You have to have a working relationship with Donald Trump or it will not work,” he said.
Graham as frequently sung Trump’s praises and has called on his party not to run away from him.
In September, Graham said he remains hopeful Trump will run again for the White House in 2024, declaring “there’s magic” in his potential bid.
The South Carolina Republican made his comments at the Michigan Republican Party’s leadership conference.
At the same time, the former president was holding a Save America Rally in Perry, Georgia, while other Republicans were getting together on Mackinac Island.
“I don’t think Trump is listening. He might be,” Graham said to applause. “I hope President Trump runs again.
“Now I believe there’s magic there – got to turn it down a notch – but there’s magic there,” Graham added.