Trump Calls Graham's Jan 6 Criticism a One Bad Moment

Former President Donald Trump reflected on his relationship with the late Senator Lindsey Graham on Monday, praising the South Carolina Republican as a loyal ally while singling out a brief period of criticism following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot as Graham's "one bad moment." Graham died on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at age 71 from an apparent aortic dissection.

Speaking during a phone interview, Trump described Graham, who was first elected to the Senate in 2002, as a "great guy," a "workaholic," and one of the best politicians in Washington. He rated Graham's loyalty at "99.9 out of 100," explaining the deduction was solely for the senator's remarks on the Senate floor hours after the riot, when Graham declared, "Count me out. Enough is enough."

Trump claimed Graham called him approximately 40 minutes after that speech to apologize, saying he had made a mistake and wished he had never made the comments. According to Trump, the senator quickly reaffirmed his support, allowing their relationship to repair almost immediately. No independent evidence has emerged to corroborate the timing or occurrence of that specific call.

Their alliance marked a significant evolution from a...