Megyn Kelly Slams Lindsey Graham Over 'Free Cuba' Remarks and Iran Strikes
Megyn Kelly launched a scathing attack on Republican Senator Lindsey Graham over the weekend, following his suggestion that Cuba could be "next" as the United States continues its military strikes against Iran. The conservative commentator expressed strong disapproval of Graham's comments, which were made during a television appearance.
Kelly's Blunt Criticism of Graham
"For the love of God this man should never be in Trump's orbit again," Kelly wrote on Sunday in response to the South Carolina senator's remarks on Fox News. She was reacting specifically to Graham's appearance on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, where he discussed foreign policy objectives.
During his interview with host Maria Bartiromo, Graham had declared: "You just wait to see what comes in the next two weeks: This regime is on Death Row now. It is going to be on its knees." The senator, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, then produced a cap bearing the slogan "Free Cuba" and hinted at future actions.
Graham's Provocative Statements on Cuba
"I'm in Miami. You see this hat? 'Free Cuba.' Stay tuned," Graham told Bartiromo during the exchange that was quickly clipped and shared across social media platforms. He added: "The liberation of Cuba is upon us. It's just a matter of time now. We're marching through the world. We're clearing out the bad guys. Cuba is next."
Graham further elaborated on his perspective, stating: "If we get in a fight, I want to win it, I want to win it quick. We're going to have relationships with new people that will make us prosperous and safe." His comments came just days after Donald Trump, who counts Graham as a close ally, suggested that Cuba was next on his administration's agenda.
Broader Context of US Foreign Policy
The exchange occurred against the backdrop of ongoing US military operations in Iran, which entered their tenth day on Monday following initial Israeli-US joint attacks on February 28 targeting Iranian missile infrastructure. Kelly was among several right-leaning commentators who broke with Trump last week over the strikes on Iran.
During her SiriusXM show, Kelly had questioned the rationale behind the military actions, stating: "My own feeling is no one should have to die for a foreign country. I don't think those four service members died for the United States." She also cast doubt on Trump's claim that Iran was planning preemptive strikes against the US, calling the justification questionable.
Reactions from Other Media Figures
Graham's comparison of current foreign policy to "Ronald Reagan plus" drew sharp criticism from MSNBC's Joe Scarborough the following morning. The Morning Joe host responded: "This isn't 'Ronald Reagan plus', this is Wilsonian adventurism at its very worst." He criticized what he described as an approach to export democracy globally, calling it "a recipe for disaster" and "a recipe for American weakness."
Scarborough elaborated: "America is strong when America is restrained, there are times we have to send our troops to war, I completely understand that, but this sort of drunk on power, this sort of drunk on militarism always leads to disaster." His cohost Mika Brzezinski quipped about the emerging strategy toward Cuba, noting she didn't remember an invasion of Cuba being among Trump's campaign promises.
Administration Actions Against Cuba
The Trump administration has recently intensified the ongoing embargo against Cuba and threatened tariffs against any country that sends oil to the island nation, where fuel is now in high demand. These measures represent a continuation of long-standing US policy toward the communist government that has been in power since the 1959 Cuban revolution.
Kelly's criticism of Graham highlights divisions within conservative circles regarding foreign policy approaches, particularly concerning military interventions and regime change objectives. Her call for Graham's removal from Trump's inner circle underscores the ongoing debate about America's role in global conflicts and the direction of US foreign policy under potential future Trump administrations.
