Lindsey Graham says Mitch McConnell was 'indispensable to Trump’s success'

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) appeared on Hannity Tuesday night where he walked a fine line between defending Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and praising former President Donald Trump as the rift between the two grows. Earlier in the day, Trump released a scathing statement railing against McConnell in response to McConnell blaming Trump for the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6 just moments after voting to acquit him at the impeachment trial on Saturday. Graham believes that the infighting between the two most prominent Republicans can only hurt the party in upcoming elections, and that it needs to come to an end.

“President Trump's statement today in response to what McConnell said Saturday is very predictable. I remind everybody, Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment was don't speak ill of fellow Republicans,” Graham said. He later added, “Mitch McConnell working with Donald Trump did a hell of a job. They are now at each other's throat. I’m more worried about 2022 than I’ve ever been. I don’t want to eat our own.”

Graham went on to list what he perceives as some of Trump’s most important accomplishments while in office, but reminded Trump of the critical role McConnell played in his presidency.

“Mitch McConnell was indispensable to Donald Trump’s success,” Graham said. “Mitch McConnell got the tax cut through, a massive tax cut, with a two vote Republican majority. Mitch McConnell is much to credit for Amy Coney Barrett as any single person.”

Video Transcript

LINDSEY GRAHAM: Mitch McConnell working with Donald Trump did a hell of a job. They're now at each other's throat. I'm more worried about 2022 than I've ever been. I don't want to eat our own.

- Senator Lindsey Graham joined "Hannity" Tuesday night, where he spoke about the growing rift between Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former President Donald Trump.

In response to McConnell blaming Trump for the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, just minutes after voting to acquit him, Trump released a scathing statement, railing against McConnell on Tuesday.

Graham believes the infighting needs to come to an end.

LINDSEY GRAHAM: President Trump's statement today in response to what McConnell said Saturday is very predictable. I remind everybody, Ronald Reagan 11th commandment was don't speak ill of fellow Republicans.

- Graham, who has been one of Trump's most ardent defenders throughout his presidency and beyond, reminded Trump how important McConnell was to his presidency, from tax cuts to rushing Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation through the Senate.

- Mitch McConnell was indispensable to Donald Trump's success. Mitch McConnell got the tax cut through, a massive tax cut, with a two vote Republican majority. Mitch McConnell is much to credit for Amy Coney Barrett as any single person.

- And given that Trump is still very popular among the Republican base, Graham had a message for McConnell.

- What I would say to Senator McConnell, I know Trump can be a handful, but he is the most dominant figure in the Republican Party. We don't have a snowball's chance in hell of taking back the majority without Donald Trump. If you don't get that, you're just not looking.