President Donald Trump honored the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Monday, calling the senator’s fiery defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearings one of the most legendary moments in congressional history.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump said Graham’s passionate stand saved Kavanaugh’s nomination when Senate Democrats launched a coordinated character assassination campaign.
“[Graham] got angry, like he did in the case of Brett Kavanaugh, it was so impactful,” Trump said. “I think it saved … Brett becoming a Justice. You know, it was just a moment in time when the Democrats got so sick and so angry and so crazy, and they were going to do something very bad.”
“I think it was one of the great 10 moments of Congress, if you want to know the truth.”
Trump went on to call Graham’s defense historic — a singular moment of courage that few senators could match.
“And Lindsey went on his tirade, and — it was much more than a tirade — but I think it was one of the 10 greatest moments in Congress,” Trump continued. “I said that was one of the 10 greatest moments in Congress, and I think you wouldn’t find 10 other cases where somebody did what he was able to do there.”
Graham didn’t hold back during the 2018 hearings. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he used his time to publicly dismantle the smear campaign Democrats orchestrated against Kavanaugh — and to warn any wavering Republicans not to fall for it.
After Kavanaugh acknowledged that he and his family had been dragged through “hell” when he should have been facing a job interview, Graham unleashed on Senate Democrats.
“Boy, y’all want power. God, I hope you never get it!” Graham said.
Trump said Graham’s intervention changed everything.
“He saved Brett from a very, very unfair decision — they would have turned a man down who was so qualified and such a good man,” Trump said.
The president also reflected on his personal friendship with Graham in several interviews and social media posts over the weekend.
On Sunday, Trump announced that all flags across the United States should be lowered to half-staff until Saturday in Graham’s honor.
