Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was met with a relentless jeer from a chorus of thousands when he gasped at former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Pickens.
The cheers quickly turned to jeers as Trump supporters gave Graham a thumbs down as he took to the stage among the mob.
Graham has represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and has drawn widespread criticism for a number of issues, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the 2020 presidential election, and the January 6 riot at the Capitol.
A bystander told DailyMail.com that “he’s like a weather vane in a tornado.”
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham (pictured) was met with relentless jeers from a chorus of thousands as he stunned former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Pickens
Cheers quickly turned to jeers as Trump supporters gave Graham a thumbs down as he took the stage among the mob
“He changes direction all the time and only does what’s best for himself.”
In live coverage of the event, Graham spent several minutes trying to calm down the crowd.
‘Thank you for coming. Thank you very much,” said Graham in response to a chorus of boos.
‘Calm down for a second. I think you’ll like this,” he added, trying desperately to make his opening remarks.
Graham, who has hesitantly supported Trump for years, praised the “common ground” they had found on Saturday.
“It took a while to get there, but let me tell you what happened,” he said.
“I’ve come to like President Trump and he likes himself and we have that in common. And I’m going to help him become president of the United States.
“So let me tell you how to win an election people – you get people who don’t always agree to agree on the most important things.
“I hope we can bring this party together because he’s going to be our nominee.”
Graham, who at one point called Trump a “racist xenophobic religious bigotry” during the 2016 campaign, became one of his biggest supporters in the Senate during his term.
Graham once called Trump a “racist xenophobic religious bigotry” during the 2016 campaign, but became one of his staunchest supporters in the Senate during his term
Graham, who spoke for about five minutes, said there was only one candidate who could unite the party — the crowd erupted in cheers only at the mention of Trump’s name.
Trump took the stage shortly after Graham’s remarks and tried to support the senator by saying, ‘We’re going to love him’
The South Carolina senator then turned against Trump in the wake of the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, but ultimately approved his bid for the White House in 2024.
“There is one person running for president as a Republican who has the ability to change this country, and that is Donald J. Trump,” he said.
He did it once, he can do it again. I’m going to help him all over this country, and folks, I’m from South Carolina, he’s going to win South Carolina.
“This is the road to the presidency.”
Graham, who spoke for about five minutes, said there was only one candidate who could unify the party.
“He’s going to be the Republican Party nominee, and let me tell you what’s at stake: if they win in 2024, they’ll occupy the Supreme Court.”
So we have to come out and make sure Donald Trump wins, if they win in 2024 Puerto Rico and DC will be states.
“Four Democrats for the rest of our lives. They will abolish the electoral college. They will turn this nation upside down.”
Trump took the stage shortly after Graham’s remarks and tried to support the senator by saying, “We’re going to love him.”
“I know, it’s half and half. But when I need some of those liberal votes, he’s always there to help me get them, okay?’
“We have quite liberal people, but he is good. We know the good. We also know the bad ones.’
MAGA supporters often called Graham a RINO (Republican in name only), calling him a “traitor” in 2021 as he waited to board a flight from the Reagan National Airport
Later in his speech, Trump mentioned Graham again and the crowd started booing again – the Republican nominee said, ‘I’m going to have to work on these people, he’s there when you need him’
Pickens police chief Randal Beach said he estimated there would be up to 30,000 people in the city — with a population of 3,370 — for the Trump rally
Later in his speech, Trump mentioned Graham again and the crowd started booing again.
“I’m going to have to work on these people, he’s there if you need him,” Trump told the crowd.
“Do you mind if I come down and do a little campaigning for you, Lindsey?” He was one of my first recommendations from the start and I appreciate that, Lindsey.”
MAGA supporters often called Graham a RINO (Republican in name only) and in 2021 called him a “traitor” as he waited to board a flight from Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport
At the time, Graham was swamped by about a dozen people calling him a “traitor” for his comments about Trump after the 2020 presidential election and shouting “you know it was rigged.”
At about 11 a.m., a Secret Service agent told the media that there are 5,000 inside the gate and about 10,000 more lined up for the meeting.
Pickens police chief Randal Beach said he estimated there would be up to 30,000 people in the city — with a population of 3,370 — for the Trump rally.