Challenges in the Life of Lindsey Graham in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Lindsey Graham faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Lindsey Graham is an American politician and attorney currently serving as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina since 2003. As a member of the Republican Party, he previously chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021. Graham's career has been marked by his presence in national politics and involvement in legal and legislative matters.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1998: Graham's previous statements during Bill Clinton's impeachment

In December 2019, Democrats referenced Lindsey Graham's statements during the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton, including his citation of Richard Nixon as proof that a president who ignored a subpoena should be impeached.

December 10, 2009: Co-sponsored a letter announcing commitment to passing a climate change bill

On December 10, 2009, Lindsey Graham, along with senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, co-sponsored a letter to President Obama announcing their commitment to passing a climate change bill. However, Graham later withdrew his support due to disagreements over immigration legislation, casting doubt on the bill's passage.

2013: Influence Declined

In 2013, Lindsey Graham along with John McCain and Joe Lieberman saw their influence declined shortly before Lieberman retired from the Senate.

2014: Vulnerable to Primary Challenge

In 2014, Graham was considered one of the most vulnerable Republican senators up for reelection to a primary challenge due to low approval ratings and working with Democrats.

2015: Graham and Trump conflict

In 2015, Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump had a conflict which was later referenced by Graham when he shared his new phone number with Trump in March 2017 after a successful meeting.

February 2016: Graham calls Trump a kook and unfit for office

In February 2016, Lindsey Graham described Donald Trump as a "kook", "crazy", and "unfit for office."

May 2016: Graham warns of destruction if Trump is nominated

In May 2016, Lindsey Graham tweeted that nominating Donald Trump would lead to the destruction of the Republican party, and they would deserve it.

June 2016: Graham criticizes Trump's remarks about judge's heritage

In June 2016, Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump's remarks about a judge of Mexican heritage, stating he was playing the race card and that it was "very un-American". Graham also suggested that people should reconsider the future of the Republican party if Trump continued this line of attack.

2016: Criticized Donald Trump's Candidacy

During the 2016 election, Graham was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump's candidacy.

January 2018: Recommends charges against Christopher Steele

In January 2018, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley recommended charges against ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, the author of the Steele dossier, for allegedly lying to federal authorities during the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

June 2019: Votes to block Trump's Saudi arms deal

In June 2019, Lindsey Graham was among a minority of Republicans who voted to block President Trump's arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, as well as voting against additional arms sales.

October 8, 2019: Graham criticizes Trump's decision to withdraw troops from Syria

On October 8, 2019, Lindsey Graham condemned Donald Trump's announcement of withdrawing U.S. troops from northern Syria during an interview with Jonathan Swan of Axios, citing that Trump was putting the nation and his presidency at risk without the support of key national security advisers.

October 2019: Threatens sanctions against Turkey if they invade Syria

In October 2019, Lindsey Graham stated his intention to introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey should they invade Syria, and also threatened to call for Turkey's suspension from NATO if they attacked Kurdish forces allied with the U.S.

November 2019: Blocks Senate resolution to recognize the Armenian genocide

In November 2019, Lindsey Graham initially blocked a Senate resolution aimed at officially recognizing the Armenian genocide.

December 2019: Graham states he has made up his mind regarding Trump's impeachment

In December 2019, as articles of impeachment against Donald Trump moved to a vote, Lindsey Graham stated he had already made up his mind and would do everything to ensure the impeachment would "die quickly" in the Senate, expressing disdain for the accusations and the process. Graham stated that he didn't need any witnesses for the Senate trial.

2020: Graham discusses Georgia's vote counting with Secretary of State

During the 2020 United States presidential election recount in Georgia, Lindsey Graham privately called Georgia's Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, to discuss vote counting and questioned the possibility of disqualifying mail-in ballots with signature errors. Raffensperger viewed this as a suggestion to discard legally cast ballots, which Graham denied.

January 6, 2021: Graham disagrees with election denial after Capitol attack

On January 6, 2021, after the attack on the United States Capitol, Lindsey Graham, along with other members of Congress, was evacuated. Upon reconvening, Graham disagreed with his Republican colleagues and acknowledged that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected.

February 2021: Investigation into Graham's call to Georgia Secretary of State

In February 2021, The Washington Post reported that Fani Willis, the Fulton County, Georgia district attorney, was examining Lindsey Graham's phone call to Brad Raffensperger as part of a criminal investigation into possible efforts to illegally overturn Georgia's election results in 2020.

January 2025: Graham disagrees with Trump's actions as president

In January 2025, Lindsey Graham disagreed with several of Donald Trump's initial actions as president, including pardoning January 6 defendants, removing security details for former officials, and the manner of firing Inspectors General.