Lindsey Graham calls the Ukraine transcript 'very appropriate.' Mitt Romney says it's 'deeply troubling.'


Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) thinks the transcript of President Trump's Ukraine call is a giant nothingburger. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) disagrees.
After the White House released the memorandum of Trump's call with Ukraine's president, in which he pressed for an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, Romney told reporters that "what we've seen from the transcript itself is deeply troubling," per CBS News' Alan He. Romney wouldn't say whether he believes the House impeachment inquiry is appropriate.
Graham went the opposite direction, rallying behind Trump by tweeting that the transcript is "a nothing (non-quid pro quo) burger." The South Carolina senator also told reporters, "From my point of view, to impeach any president over a phone call like this would be insane," adding that Ukraine's president "did not feel threatened" and "felt fine with what happened" and that what Trump said was "very appropriate."
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.
House Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), meanwhile, sides with Graham, in a statement saying "there was absolutely no quid pro quo" on the call.
At the same time, Democrats doubled down on their calls for impeachment, arguing there was an implicit quid pro quo on the call, with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tweeting, "The president of the United States has betrayed our country. That's not a political statement — it's a harsh reality, and we must act." Brendan Morrow
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies