The Trump Whisperer Who Wasn’t Listening: Graham’s Decade of Loyalty

Slate’s Fred Kaplan argues that Lindsey Graham traded independent judgment for loyalty to Donald Trump, wooing him, joining his circle, and bending his own positions to stay “relevant.” The piece notes Graham’s influence on select policy moments (including Ukraine sanctions and support for Iran actions) but suggests his approach largely reflected a personal strategic gamble rather than principled leadership, leaving his legacy—and McCain’s memory—tangled in controversy.