Lindsey Graham tells Muslims: 'You are not the enemy, your religion is not the enemy'


During the Republican presidential candidate undercard debate Tuesday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) had a message for Muslims in the U.S. military.
"There are at least 3,500 American Muslims serving in the armed forces," he said. "Thank you for your service. You are not the enemy, your religion is not the enemy." Graham made his comments after former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said he believes law enforcement officials should go into mosques to listen to what is being said, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum announced: "Islam is different. Islam is not just a religion. It is also a political governing structure. The fact of the matter is that Islam is a religion, but it is also Sharia Law. It is a civil government, and it is also a form of government. So the idea that that is protected under the First Amendment is wrong, and in fact, the political structure is what is the big problem."
Graham said that Muslim soldiers are "the solution, not the problem," and that people need to leave "the faith alone, and go after the radicals that kill us all." Earlier in the debate, Graham said that fellow candidate Donald Trump was wrong when he called for a ban on letting Muslims into the United States. "Donald Trump has done the one single thing you cannot do: declare war on Islam itself," he said. "[ISIS] would be dancing in the streets, they just don't believe in dancing."
Subscribe to 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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Critics' choice: Three takes on tavern dining
Feature A second Minetta Tavern, A 1946 dining experience, and a menu with a mission
By The Week US
-
Film reviews: Warfare and A Minecraft Movie
Feature A combat film that puts us in the thick of it and five misfits fall into a cubic-world adventure
By The Week US
-
What to know before lending money to family or friends
the explainer Ensure both your relationship and your finances remain intact
By Becca Stanek, The Week US
-
Pope returns to Vatican after long hospital stay
Speed Read Pope Francis entered the hospital on Feb. 14 and battled double pneumonia
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Texas megachurch founder charged with sex crimes
Speed Read Robert Morris, former spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump, is accused of sexually abusing a child
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Pope Francis suffers setback with respiratory episodes
Speed Read The 88-year-old pope continues to battle pneumonia
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
US Christianity's long decline has halted, Pew finds
Speed Read 62% of Americans call themselves Christian, a population that has been 'relatively stable' for the past five years
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Pope Francis hospitalized with 'complex' illness
Speed Read The Vatican says their leader has a respiratory infection, raising new concerns about his health
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The Aga Khan, billionaire spiritual leader, dies at 88
Speed Read Prince Karim Al-Hussaini's philanthropy funded hospitals, housing and schools in some of the world's poorest places
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Biden awards Pope Francis highest US civilian honor
Speed Read President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Pope seeks inquiry on if Gaza assault is 'genocide'
Speed Read In a book for the Jubilee 2025, Pope Francis considers whether Israel's war in Gaza meets the legal definition of 'genocide'
By Peter Weber, The Week US