Her. Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin Graham Sunday shows preview: Manchin makes the round after pivotal role in coronavirus relief debate Georgia DA investigates Trump taps extortion expert for probe: GOP report votes in unison against COVID-19 relief law MORE (RS.C.) said in an interview aired Sunday that he thinks it used to be President Trump
Donald Trump Biden Signs Executive Order To Increase Voting Rights Albany Times Union Editorial Calls For Cuomo Attorneys To Resign Warn Restrictive Voting Bills Could End Georgia’s Record Turnout MORE can make the GOP “bigger” and “stronger,” or it can “destroy it.”
Graham, who has been considered an ally and defender of Trump since his election, told “Axios on HBO” that Trump involves a “ larger than life deal, ” describing the former president as “ sort of a cross between Jesse Helms, Ronald Reagan and PT Barnum. ”
“He could make the Republican Party something that no one else I know could make it,” said the Republican senator. He could make it bigger. He could make it stronger. He could make it more diverse. And he could destroy it too. “
The South Carolina senator described the former president as having both a “dark side” and “magic there.”
“What I’m trying to do is just use the magic,” said Graham, noting the former Republican presidential candidates. John McCain
John Sidney McCain Former Trump Defense chief Esper joins McCain Institute We need an independent 1/6 commission that can trust the entire country on GOP targets Manchin, Sinema, Kelly on Becerra MORE and Mitt Romney
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“I want us to continue with policies that I think will make America strong,” Graham told Axios’ Jonathan Swan. “I think the Republican Party can do best with Trump, not without Trump.”
Graham had publicly challenged Trump’s mental fitness to lead the presidency ahead of the 2016 election. But after Trump was defeated Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonHillicon Valley: China Involved in Microsoft Breach | White House adds Big Tech critic | QAnon unfazed after false prediction Jill Biden redefines the role of first lady QAnon supporters unfazed after another false prediction MORE, Graham welcomed the former president.
Graham assisted Trump for most of his presidency, though he condemned Trump for his role in the January Capitol riots and said in a speech hours later that “ enough is enough. ”
The senator’s comments come as the Republican Party determines how much of the role the former president will play in the GOP after his one-time presidency.
In his first major speech since leaving office, Trump spoke to supporters at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week in an effort to cement his leadership role in the party and tease a possible presidential run in 2024.