Lindsey Graham criticizes Trump, praises Biden in new leaked audio
New York Times reporters Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin shared new audio in which Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) can be heard criticizing former President Donald Trump and praising President Biden in the wake of the Capitol riot, The Hill and Insider report.
During a Tuesday night appearance on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, Burns and Martin shared a tape of a post-Jan. 6 interview with Graham, in which the lawmaker says Trump "plays the TV game and he went too far here."
"That rally didn't help, talking about primarying [Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney]. He created a sense of revenge," Graham continued, per Insider.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In another clip, the South Carolina Republican also said he believed everyone would "come out" of the Capitol riot "stronger."
When asked if he thought Biden would help with that healing, Graham replied, "Totally."
"He'll maybe be the best person to have," he continued. "I mean, how mad can you get at Joe Biden?"
Graham is often seen as an ally to Trump, though he has pushed back on the ex-president in the past. He voted to certify the results of the 2020 election, and also criticized Trump for suggesting the possibility of pardons for Capitol rioters.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
In another headline-making moment, Burns and Martin also recently leaked post-riot audio in which House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), a Trump acolyte, can be heard saying he will tell the then-president to resign.
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
The ‘menopause gold rush’Under the Radar Women vulnerable to misinformation and marketing of ‘unregulated’ products
-
Voting Rights Act: SCOTUS’s pivotal decisionFeature A Supreme Court ruling against the Voting Rights Act could allow Republicans to redraw districts and solidify control of the House
-
No Kings rally: What did it achieve?Feature The latest ‘No Kings’ march has become the largest protest in U.S. history
-
No Kings rally: What did it achieve?Feature The latest ‘No Kings’ march has become the largest protest in U.S. history
-
Push for Ukraine ceasefire collapsesFeature Talks between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin were called off after the Russian president refused to compromise on his demands
-
Trump eyes regime change in VenezuelaFeature Officials believe Trump’s ‘war on narco-terrorism’ is actually a push to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro
-
‘Social media is the new tabloid’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
How are ICE’s recruitment woes complicating Trump’s immigration agenda?TODAY’S BIG QUESTION Lowered training standards and ‘athletically allergic’ hopefuls are hindering the White House plan to turn the Department of Homeland Security into a federal police force
-
Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy
-
Donald Trump’s week in Asia: can he shift power away from China?Today's Big Question US president’s whirlwind week of diplomacy aims to bolster economic ties and de-escalate trade war with China
-
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s rebellion: Maga hardliner turns on TrumpIn the Spotlight The Georgia congresswoman’s independent streak has ‘not gone unnoticed’ by the president
