Watch GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham evoke Bill Clinton and murdered cats to defend Trump's mockery of Christine Blasey Ford


Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is a wee bit unhappy with one little thing President Trump did, and he has some very gentle words to prove it.
On Tuesday night, Trump devoted a portion of his Mississippi rally to mocking Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who says Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her when they were in high school. Conservatives quickly and harshly rebuked Trump's words, but in his Wednesday appearance at The Atlantic Festival, Graham merely said he "didn't particularly like" the comments.
Trump's belittling insistence that Ford couldn't remember details of her alleged assault was a "factual rendition," Graham said at the festival. "I would tell him to knock it off," Graham continued, but then added that "it can be worse. You can actually kill somebody's cat and puncture their tires to get them to shut up."
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.
Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, who was interviewing Graham, voiced everyone's thoughts: "I don't even know what that means." Graham sassily clarified that it was a reference to Kathleen Willey, who in 1998 alleged former President Bill Clinton sexually assaulted her, and that someone slashed her tires and killed her cat in an attempt to keep her quiet.
With his compulsory flashback taken care of, Graham returned to his passionate defense of Kavanaugh — and got a few boos from the audience. Watch the whole moment below. Kathryn Krawczyk
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
5 low ratings cartoons about the Late Show cancellation
Cartoons Artists take on early warning signs, the Gen Z stare, and more
-
Connie Francis: Superstar of the early 1960s pop scene
In the Spotlight The 'Pretty Little Baby' and 'Stupid Cupid' singer has died aged 87
-
Crossword: July 26, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein