Senator Lindsey Graham launched into a tirade about Nazis and Winston Churchill when pressed to defend President Donald Trump's recent controversial remarks regarding Americans' financial struggles.
Earlier this week, Trump stated, "I don't think about American financial situation," despite the ongoing war in Iran causing a surge in inflation, largely driven by rising gas prices. He added, "I don't think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, that's all."
Graham's Churchill comparison
During an appearance on NBC's Meet The Press, Graham, a longtime hawk on Iran, told host Kristen Welker that this was Trump's "Churchill moment."
"When Churchill came into power, he promised blood, sweat, toll, heartache until we deal with the Nazis, who are an existential threat to the British way of life," Graham said. "And if Hitler had taken charge of the planet, it would have been the darkest hour in humanity."
Inflation has spiked since the war in Iran began. On Tuesday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that inflation rose by 0.6 percent, with gas prices increasing 5.4 percent in April. Polling indicates that Americans blame Trump for the rise in gas prices, which escalated after the Iranian regime closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's energy passes.
Graham echoed Trump's stance on Iran. "Do I worry about gas prices? Yes, but President Trump's right," he said. "The biggest threat to disability in the world is a nuclear-armed Iran, and whatever price we have to pay, we will pay."
Graham's evolution from critic to ally
The South Carolina Republican initially criticized Trump during his 2015 presidential campaign, calling him "a jackass." However, Graham has since become one of Trump's most steadfast allies in the Senate, transforming from a bipartisan dealmaker into a bomb-thrower.
"What did Churchill say? Whatever price we have to pay to beat Hitler, we will pay," Graham said. "Same with Iran."
Graham asserted that the United States was "inside the 10-yard line" with the war in Iran. "I think if we go back to military activity, weaken them further, then we can end this thing pretty soon," he said.
Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran last month after continued saber-rattling and threats to bomb bridges and energy infrastructure. However, negotiations with the Iranian regime have stalled.
The war also carries serious implications for Republicans' ability to maintain their fragile majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. But Graham said he was willing to give up his job to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "It's worth losing my job," he said. "If I had to give my job up to make sure Iran would never have a nuclear weapon, I would do it."
Graham added that the best thing he can do in his job is to keep Americans safe. "You don't have to agree with me, but I've been this way for 20 years," he said. "But here's the good news: gas prices will come down when you put Iran in a box. Saudi Israel peace will become possible when you put Iran in a box. The upside of dealing with Iran is enormously good, but you got to deal with them."
House Speaker admits gas price concerns
House Speaker Mike Johnson also acknowledged that the Strait of Hormuz situation and gas prices have troubled Republicans. "Gas prices are too high because of that, and that has an effect on how goods are transported to the grocery store," he said. "As soon as we get that straightened out, we will get back to the kitchen table issues, the economic issues that we put in place to make the economy grow."
