MS NOW host Chris Hayes outlined on Monday what he described as the critical reason the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) considered President Donald Trump an essential ally. Hayes argued that Graham perceived Trump as central to a "shared continuous project" for the Republican Party in the 21st century, enabling the senator to further his advocacy for military engagement and advance GOP objectives.
Following Graham's death over the weekend, Hayes discussed the senator's political trajectory, noting that Graham briefly distanced himself from Trump after the Capitol riot. However, Hayes pointed out that Graham ultimately voted to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial and later realigned himself with the former president, particularly leading up to Trump's 2024 victory.
"Graham reembraced Trump, attacking the few Republicans that broke ranks and voicing a conclusion that turned out to be grounded very firmly in an astute understanding of political reality," Hayes said. He characterized Graham not as a passive figure but as "a man who had his own project he was pursuing and he viewed Trump as crucial to that project."
Hayes cited a past statement from Graham at the Republican Jewish Coalition annual leadership summit, where the senator remarked, "We’re killing all the right people and we’re cutting your taxes." Hayes interpreted this statement as Graham articulating the party's priorities and his own commitment to a vision that he believed could be realized through alignment with Trump. "That’s what he looked to his party to deliver, it’s what he wanted to deliver. He was committed to that vision and it was able to do so through Donald Trump," Hayes explained.