Full History Of Lindsey Graham In Timeline From 1955

July 9, 1955: Lindsey Graham's Birth

On July 9, 1955, Lindsey Olin Graham was born. He is an American politician and attorney who has served as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina since 2003.

Others born on this day/year

1966: Fritz Hollings Elected to Senate

In 1966, Fritz Hollings was elected to the Senate. Graham became South Carolina's first new U.S. senator since Hollings.

1973: Graham stated that abortion was handled by the United States until 1973.

In May 2022, Lindsey Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe to ensure that "every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms", as this would be the way the United States handled the issue until 1973.

1977: Graduated with B.A. in Psychology

In 1977, Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in psychology.

1981: Graduated from Law School

In 1981, Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a J.D.

1981: Received Juris Doctor Degree

In 1981, Graham received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

1982: Began Active Duty in Air Force

In 1982, Graham began his active duty military service with the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the United States Air Force.

1982: Commissioned in JAG Corps

In 1982, Graham was commissioned as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) in the United States Air Force and began active duty.

1984: Featured on 60 Minutes

In 1984, Graham was featured in an episode of "60 Minutes" while defending an Air Force pilot accused of using marijuana. The episode exposed the Air Force's defective drug-testing procedures.

1988: End of Active Duty in Europe

In 1988, Graham concluded his active duty service in Europe as the Air Force's chief prosecutor, based in West Germany.

1988: Served as assistant county attorney

In 1988, Graham served as assistant county attorney for Oconee County, South Carolina.

1989: Joined South Carolina Air National Guard

In 1989, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard after leaving active duty in the Air Force.

1989: Left Active Duty

In 1989, Graham left active duty in the Air Force and entered private practice as a lawyer.

1990: Recalled to Active Duty

During the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Graham was recalled to active duty.

1990: City Attorney for Central

In 1990, Graham began serving as the city attorney for Central, South Carolina.

1991: Served at McEntire Air National Guard Station

In 1991, Graham served as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station.

1992: Served as assistant county attorney

In 1992, Graham was assistant county attorney for Oconee County.

1992: Elected to South Carolina House

In 1992, Graham was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district.

1993: Began Term in South Carolina House

In 1993, Graham began his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

1994: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1994, Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district, becoming the first Republican to represent the district since 1877.

1994: End of City Attorney Role

In 1994, Graham's time as the city attorney for Central came to an end.

1994: Write-in votes

In 1994, write-in candidates received 13 votes.

1995: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1995, Graham began serving in the United States House of Representatives for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district.

1995: Joined U.S. Air Force Reserve

In 1995, Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

1995: End of Term in South Carolina House

In 1995, Graham's term in the South Carolina House of Representatives came to an end.

1996: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1996, Graham was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Debbie Dorn.

1996: Voted for the Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Lindsey Graham voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as between one man and one woman and enacted non-recognition of same-sex marriages at the federal level.

November 1997: Co-sponsored Impeachment Resolution

In November 1997, Graham co-sponsored a resolution by Bob Barr seeking to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.

1997: Took Part in Leadership Challenge

In 1997, Graham participated in a leadership challenge against House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

October 8, 1998: Voted to Open Impeachment Inquiry

On October 8, 1998, Graham voted in favor of legislation to open an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.

1998: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

In 1998, Graham was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

1998: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives Unopposed

In 1998, Graham was re-elected to a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed.

1998: Response to Desert Shield and Desert Storm Veteran Claims

In 1998, The Hill newspaper reported Graham described himself as a Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran on his website. Graham responded that he "never deployed".

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.

2000: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2000, Graham was re-elected to a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating George Brightharp.

2000: Supports John McCain for president

In 2000, Lindsey Graham supported John McCain's presidential bid.

2000: Votes for Natural Law candidate LeRoy J. Klein and write-ins

In 2000, Natural Law candidate LeRoy J. Klein received 1,122 votes, and write-in candidates received 33 votes.

2002: Elected to U.S. Senate

In 2002, Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding Strom Thurmond.

2002: Won U.S. Senate Seat

In 2002, Graham won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Strom Thurmond.

2002: Voted for the Iraq Resolution

In 2002, Lindsey Graham voted for the Iraq Resolution, which authorized military action against Iraq, and he also supported the subsequent invasion of Iraq.

2003: Senior military lawyers raised concerns about legality of interrogations at Guantanamo Bay

As early as 2003, senior military lawyers raised concerns about the legality of the interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.

2003: Began U.S. Senate Service

In 2003, Graham began his service in the U.S. Senate.

June 2004: US Supreme Court decision allowing detainees to file habeas corpus petitions.

In June 2004 the U.S. Supreme Court allowed detainees to file habeas corpus petitions to challenge their detentions. In response to this Graham authored an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act attempting to clarify the authority of American courts.

2004: Promoted to Colonel and White House Ceremony

In 2004, Graham received his promotion to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at a White House ceremony officiated by President George W. Bush.

May 23, 2005: Graham part of Gang of 14 senators forging a compromise on judicial nominees

On May 23, 2005, Lindsey Graham was part of the Gang of 14 senators who forged a compromise that brought a halt to the continued blockage of an up-or-down vote on judicial nominees, negating both the Democrats' use of a filibuster and the Republican nuclear option.

July 2005: Graham secured declassification and release of memoranda about legality of interrogations at Guantanamo Bay

In July 2005, Lindsey Graham secured the declassification and release of memoranda outlining concerns made by senior military lawyers as early as 2003 about the legality of the interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.

November 2005: Amendment to clarify authority of American courts passed in the Senate.

In November 2005, an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act, authored by Graham attempting to clarify the authority of American courts, passed in the Senate by a vote of 49–42 despite opposition from human rights groups and legal scholars.

2005: Detainee Treatment Act of 2005.

In 2005, Congress passed the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 that would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear pending cases brought by Guantanamo detainees.

February 2006: Graham filed amicus brief in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case

In February 2006, Lindsey Graham joined Senator Jon Kyl in filing an amicus brief in the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case that argued Congress was aware that the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear pending cases brought by Guantanamo detainees.

2006: Supported a constitutional amendment opposing same-sex marriage

In 2006, Lindsey Graham voted to support a constitutional amendment opposing marriage between same-sex couples, stating his belief in the traditional definition of marriage and the need to protect it. He believed a constitutional amendment was the only effective way to address judicial trends towards recognizing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

2006: Graham supported McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill of 2006.

In 2006, Lindsey Graham was a supporter of S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill.

2006: Court Ruling on Military Judge Service

In 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces set aside a lower court's ruling, concluding that it was improper for Graham to serve as a military judge while a sitting member of the Senate.

2007: Served in Iraq

In 2007, Graham served in Iraq as a reservist on active duty, working on detainee and rule-of-law issues.

2007: Influence at its Zenith

In 2007, Lindsey Graham along with John McCain and Joe Lieberman reached the zenith of their influence as President Bush advocated for his surge strategy in Iraq.

2007: Graham supported Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007.

In 2007, Lindsey Graham supported S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.

2008: Re-elected to U.S. Senate

In 2008, Graham was re-elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Buddy Witherspoon in the Republican primary and Bob Conley in the general election.

2008: Graham won Republican nomination.

In 2008, Graham won the nomination by a large margin despite a primary challenge.

2008: Russia's invasion of Georgian land

In 2008, Lindsey Graham cosponsored a resolution that contended that "Russia's invasion of Georgian land in 2008 was an act of aggression, not only to Georgia but to all new democracies."

2008: Serves as national co-chair of McCain's presidential campaign

In 2008, Lindsey Graham served as the national co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign.

May 2009: Graham referred to domestic internment of Japanese and German prisoners as a model.

In a May 2009 CNN interview, Lindsey Graham referred to the domestic internment of German and Japanese prisoners of war and U.S. Citizens as a model for domestic detention of Guantanamo detainees.

August 2009: Served in Afghanistan

During the August 2009 Senate recess, Graham served in Afghanistan.

August 2009: Served as Legal Advisor in Iraq and Afghanistan

From August 2009, Graham served as a senior legal adviser to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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.

December 2009: Graham voted against the Affordable Care Act

In December 2009, Lindsey Graham voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

June 2010: Stated the science about global warming has changed

In June 2010, Lindsey Graham told reporters that the science about global warming had changed and that the movement had taken a giant step backward. He also said that he planned to vote against the climate bill he had originally co-sponsored.

July 2010: Graham suggested amending the 14th Amendment

In July 2010, Lindsey Graham suggested that U.S. citizenship as a birthright guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution should be amended.

November 6, 2010: Called for a preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime

On November 6, 2010, Lindsey Graham called for a preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime.

December 2010: Voted against the ratification of New Start

In December 2010, Lindsey Graham was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of New Start, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation.

2010: Start of suspicious contributions to Graham

Between 2010 and 2014, the Thornton Law Firm and its partners engaged in practices to reimburse political contributions, raising suspicions about campaign donation habits.

2010: Graham voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

In 2010, Lindsey Graham voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

2010: Graham worked with Schumer on immigration reform.

In early 2010, Lindsey Graham began working with Democratic New York senator Chuck Schumer on immigration reform, but the talks broke down later that year.

April 3, 2011: Graham suggested Congress take action against Koran-burning by Terry Jones

On April 3, 2011, Lindsey Graham suggested that Congress take unspecified though formal action against the Koran-burning by Florida preacher Terry Jones, and asserted that Congress might need to explore limiting some forms of freedom of speech.

August 2011: Co-sponsored a resolution on Russia's invasion of Georgia

In August 2011, Lindsey Graham co-sponsored a resolution that contended that "Russia's invasion of Georgian land in 2008 was an act of aggression, not only to Georgia but to all new democracies."

2011: Kelly Ayotte Joined the Group

In 2011, Kelly Ayotte joined the Senate and was considered Joe Lieberman's replacement in the group of senators known as "the three amigos".

2011: Supported continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq

In 2011, Lindsey Graham supported a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, stating that without 10,000 to 15,000 American troops in Iraq in 2012, Iraq could "go to hell".

April 2012: Endorses Mitt Romney after Santorum withdraws

After Rick Santorum withdrew from the race in April 2012, leaving Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, Lindsey Graham endorsed Romney for president.

June 2012: Supports closing tax loopholes

Despite signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, in June 2012, Lindsey Graham supported the closure of tax loopholes without compensating decreases in other tax revenue due to the country's significant debt.

November 2012: Graham and Schumer resumed talks on immigration reform.

In November 2012, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer resumed their talks on comprehensive immigration reform.

2012: Proposed troop numbers for Iraq

In 2012, Lindsey Graham believed that If we're not smart enough to work with the Iraqis to have 10,000 to 15,000 American troops in Iraq in 2012, Iraq could go to hell.

2012: Testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attack

In 2012, Lindsey Graham said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "got away with murder" after her testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attack. He had a different take the next year.

January 28, 2013: Graham was a member of a bipartisan group of eight senators that announced principles for comprehensive immigration reform.

On January 28, 2013, Lindsey Graham was a member of a bipartisan group of eight senators that announced principles for comprehensive immigration reform.

January 29, 2013: Said Hillary Clinton got away with murder

On January 29, 2013, Lindsey Graham said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "got away with murder" after her testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attack. He had a different take the next year.

February 2013: Improved Approval Rating

In February 2013, Graham's approval rating improved with a 59% positive rating among likely Republican voters according to a Winthrop poll.

February 28, 2013: Criticized budget reduction

On February 28, 2013, Lindsey Graham criticized Obama and both political parties for allowing budget reduction to occur with "two-thirds of the budget" exempt from reductions. He argued the impact on the Department of Defense would create a "hollow military" that "invites aggression".

March 2013: Graham joined senators in introducing a bill to close a loophole regarding gun purchases.

In March 2013, Lindsey Graham joined senators Jeff Flake, Mark Begich, and Mark Pryor in introducing a bill that would close a loophole by flagging people who attempt to buy guns who have used an insanity defense, were ruled dangerous by a court or had been committed by a court to mental health treatment.

June 23, 2013: Graham said that the Senate was close to obtaining 70 votes to pass the reform package.

On June 23, 2013, Lindsey Graham said that the Senate was close to obtaining 70 votes to pass the reform package.

July 16, 2013: Suggested boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia

On July 16, 2013, Lindsey Graham suggested the United States should consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, due to concerns about the actions of the Russian government.

July 25, 2013: Senate Committee adopted amendment by Graham seeking sanctions against countries offering asylum to Edward Snowden

On July 25, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously adopted an amendment by Lindsey Graham to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill that sought sanctions against any country that offered asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

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.

2013: Graham defended NSA collecting phone records

In 2013, in response to disclosures about the United States National Security Agency's global surveillance, Lindsey Graham said he was glad the NSA was collecting phone records and didn't mind Verizon turning over records to the government to match terrorist phones.

2013: Democrats changed Senate rules to allow a simple majority vote for nominees

In 2013, years before his 2016 pledge, Democrats changed Senate rules to allow a simple majority vote for nominees to United States courts of appeals.

July 2014: End of Service as Legal Advisor

In July 2014, Graham's service as a senior legal adviser to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan came to an end.

October 2014: Hints at potential presidential run

During his Senate reelection race in October 2014, Lindsey Graham hinted at a potential presidential run if no one else stepped up to address key issues like immigration and foreign policy.

2014: Suspicious contributions to Graham

Between 2010 and 2014, the Thornton Law Firm and its partners engaged in practices to reimburse political contributions, raising suspicions about campaign donation habits.

2014: Awarded Bronze Star Medal

In 2014, Graham was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.

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.

2014: Boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia

In 2014, Lindsey Graham suggested the United States should consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, due to concerns about the actions of the Russian government.

2014: Amendment by Graham sought sanctions against countries offering asylum to Edward Snowden.

In Fiscal Year 2014, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations adopted an amendment by Lindsey Graham to seek sanctions against any country that offered asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

March 7, 2015: Advocates for reversing defense spending cuts

On March 7, 2015, at a "Politics and Pies" forum, Lindsey Graham advocated for reversing defense spending cuts and jokingly suggested using the military to keep Congress in town until the issue was resolved.

March 2015: Supports Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen

In March 2015, Lindsey Graham voiced his support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, emphasizing the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and their shared opposition to Iran.

April 19, 2015: Expresses high certainty about running for president

On April 19, 2015, Lindsey Graham stated on Fox News Sunday that he was "91% sure" he would run for president if he could raise the necessary funds.

May 18, 2015: Informally announces presidential run

On May 18, 2015, Lindsey Graham informally announced his candidacy for president on CBS This Morning, citing concerns about the state of the world as his motivation.

June 1, 2015: Announces candidacy for President

Lindsey Graham formally announced his candidacy for President of the United States on June 1, 2015.

June 17, 2015: Responds to Charleston church shooting

Following the mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham canceled campaign events and addressed questions about the Confederate flag, stating it was time for South Carolinians to revisit its presence at the State Capitol while also attributing the shooting to the individual's actions, not external influences like books, movies, or symbols.

July 2015: Called Trump a "jackass"

In July 2015, Graham, then a presidential candidate, called Donald Trump a "jackass" for his comments about John McCain. Trump retaliated by calling Graham an "idiot" and revealing Graham's personal cellphone number at a rally.

December 2015: Dropped out of Presidential Race

In December 2015, Graham dropped out of the Republican nomination for president.

December 2015: Graham's Criticism of Trump's Muslim Ban Proposal

In December 2015, Graham strongly criticized Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, calling him a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot."

December 21, 2015: Suspends presidential campaign

On December 21, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended his presidential campaign due to a lack of support and poor polling results.

2015: Retired from Air Force

In 2015, Graham retired from the Air Force with over 33 years of service.

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.

2015: Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate.

In 2015, Lindsey Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate, which bans abortion after 20 weeks of gestation on a national basis, with some exceptions.

2015: Accepted climate change as real

In 2015, Lindsey Graham stated that he "completely understand[s] and accept[s]" that climate change is real but said "I don't know" the role human activity played.

January 15, 2016: Endorses Jeb Bush for president

On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president.

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.

May 2016: Announces he will not vote for Trump or Clinton

In May 2016, after it appeared certain that Donald Trump would become the Republican nominee, Lindsey Graham announced that he would not vote for either Trump or Hillary Clinton.

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.

November 8, 2016: Votes for Evan McMullin

On November 8, 2016, Lindsey Graham announced that he had voted for Evan McMullin for president.

2016: Criticized Donald Trump's Candidacy

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

2016: Russian interference in the election

In 2016, Graham was involved in the investigation into Russian interference in the election.

2016: Graham's pledge on Supreme Court nominees

In 2016, Lindsey Graham made a pledge regarding filling Supreme Court vacancies during a presidential election year.

2016: Sister introduces Graham at presidential announcement

In 2016, Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, introduced him at his announcement of his candidacy for president.

2016: Liberation of the city from ISIS in 2016

In 2016, The Manbij Military Council led an offensive to liberate the city from ISIS with help from the US-led coalition

2016: Graham stated Supreme Court vacancies should never be filled in a presidential election year

In 2016, after Justice Antonin Scalia's death, Lindsey Graham stated that Supreme Court vacancies should never be filled in a presidential election year. He also stated that Republicans were setting a precedent.

2016: Report on campaign contributions from Thornton Law Firm

In 2016, it was reported that Lindsey Graham was the only Republican recipient of money from the Thornton Law Firm, a major Democratic donor facing scrutiny for questionable campaign donation habits.

January 5, 2017: Condemned Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334

On January 5, 2017, Lindsey Graham condemned Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which criticized Israeli settlement building.

March 2017: Became Staunch Trump Ally

After a March 2017 meeting with Donald Trump, Graham became a staunch ally of his.

March 2017: Graham meets with Trump and shares his phone number

In March 2017, Lindsey Graham had a meeting with Donald Trump that went so well that Graham passed his new phone number to Trump, referencing their 2015 conflict.

March 2017: Graham voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

In March 2017, Lindsey Graham voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal that removed the FCC's internet privacy rules and allowed internet service providers to sell customers' browsing history without their permission.

October 2017: Graham and Trump play golf together

In October 2017, Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump played golf together on multiple occasions, with Graham publicly praising the first outing.

October 2017: Called for an expanded role of the U.S. military in Niger

In October 2017, following the Tongo Tongo ambush, Lindsey Graham called for an expanded role of the U.S. military in Niger and more aggressive actions toward U.S. enemies in Africa.

November 2017: Graham criticizes media reporting on Trump

In November 2017, Lindsey Graham criticized the media's reporting on Donald Trump, stating that the American press was endlessly trying to label Trump as unfit for president.

2017: Graham authored the Graham-Cassidy amendment to Republicans' 2017 repeal efforts.

In 2017, Lindsey Graham played a leading role in efforts to repeal Obamacare, authoring the Graham–Cassidy amendment to Republicans' repeal efforts.

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.

April 2018: Graham announces support for Trump's reelection

In April 2018, Lindsey Graham announced that he would support Donald Trump's reelection in 2020.

April 2018: Introduces legislation to limit Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller

In April 2018, Lindsey Graham, along with Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis, introduced the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, legislation aimed at limiting President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller by allowing an expedited judicial review of any dismissal.

May 2018: Graham voted against legislation to restore net neutrality

In May 2018, Lindsey Graham voted against legislation that would have overturned the FCC's ruling and restored net neutrality.

July 2018: Visited Manbij in Syria

In July 2018, Lindsey Graham and Senator Jeanne Shaheen visited Manbij in Syria and met with the Manbij Military Council, which had previously liberated the city from ISIS in 2016.

August 2018: Graham defends Trump against accusations of racism

In August 2018, The Washington Post reported that Lindsey Graham had stated he had never heard Donald Trump make a single racist statement.

October 2018: Graham clarified stance on filling Supreme Court vacancies during presidential election year

In October 2018, Lindsey Graham stated that if a Supreme Court opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process has started, the Senate will wait until the next election to fill it.

November 2018: Named Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee

In November 2018, Graham was named as the incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, succeeding Chuck Grassley.

2018: Graham questioned Ford's testimony during Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings

During the 2018 confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, Lindsey Graham took a strong stance against delaying the process due to Christine Blasey Ford's allegations of sexual assault. After Ford's testimony, Graham doubted her recollection that Kavanaugh assaulted her.

2018: Graham said Roe v. Wade is precedent that should not be overturned without good reason.

In 2018, Lindsey Graham was anti-abortion, but said that Roe v. Wade is precedent that should not be overturned without good reason.

January 2019: Became Chair of Senate Judiciary Committee

In January 2019, Graham became the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

January 2019: Graham emphasizes the need for Republicans to support Trump's policies

In January 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that Republicans must support Donald Trump's policies, arguing that undermining the president would lead to the end of his presidency and the end of the Republican party.

February 2019: Graham discusses his relationship with Trump in an interview

In February 2019, Mark Leibovich interviewed Lindsey Graham for The New York Times Magazine, where Graham explained he was attempting "to be relevant" by working with President Trump and gaining influence within his inner circle. Graham also noted the personal connection, mentioning they play golf and he personally likes Trump. Furthermore, Graham mentioned that a good relationship with Trump would help his prospects of reelection to the Senate in 2020.

March 11, 2019: Encouraged recognizing the Golan Heights as part of Israel

On March 11, 2019, Lindsey Graham said he would encourage the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

March 14, 2019: Blocks resolution calling for Mueller's report to be made public

On March 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a resolution that called for Robert Mueller's report to be made public after the House had unanimously passed it.

May 14, 2019: Graham encourages Donald Trump Jr. to ignore subpoena

On May 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham faced scrutiny for encouraging Donald Trump Jr. to ignore a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee, which drew criticism from Senator Joe Manchin.

May 2019: Called for military invasion of Venezuela

In May 2019, Lindsey Graham called for a military invasion of Venezuela to overthrow Nicolás Maduro amid the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis.

May 2019: Graham proposed new immigration laws.

In May 2019, Lindsey Graham proposed instituting new immigration laws that would only allow migrants to apply for asylum from their home country or Mexico, smooth the process to deport unaccompanied children to Central America, and extend the period by which migrant children could be detained from 20 days to 100 days.

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.

June 25, 2019: Claims Trump cooperated with Mueller investigation

On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that President Trump fully cooperated with the Mueller investigation, providing documents and allowing his lawyer Don McGahn to testify extensively.

July 2019: Graham defends Trump against racism allegations

In July 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that he did not believe Donald Trump was racist and defended Trump's statements regarding Democratic congresswomen, asserting that they were not racist.

July 2019: Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas.

In July 2019, Lindsey Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas and reacted that it was not a concentration camp but a facility overwhelmed, and said he did not care if the migrants had to stay in these facilities for 400 days because they were dangerous.

July 24, 2019: Speculates on Mueller report after testimony

After Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham speculated that the Mueller report was in name only and not actually written by Mueller.

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: Votes for resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham voted in favor of a resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide, which passed the Senate unanimously.

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.

2019: Graham became chair of the Judiciary Committee

In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Judiciary Committee.

2019: Chaired Senate Judiciary Committee

In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

May 2020: Graham stated Senate would confirm a Supreme Court nominee before the November election

In May 2020, Lindsey Graham said the Senate would work to confirm a Supreme Court nominee if a vacancy arose before the November election, differentiating it from the Merrick Garland situation.

August 2020: Graham said the rules changed after Kavanaugh's confirmation

In August 2020, Lindsey Graham stated that after Kavanaugh's confirmation, the rules have changed as far as he's concerned.

September 2020: Graham supported immediate Senate vote on Trump's Supreme Court nominee

In September 2020, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lindsey Graham expressed support for the Senate immediately voting on Trump's nominee, reversing his earlier stance.

October 2020: Led Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation Hearings

In October 2020, Graham led the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett.

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.

2020: Graham urges Trump not to concede and donates to election lawsuits

Following the projection that Joe Biden won the 2020 United States presidential election, Lindsey Graham urged Donald Trump not to concede, donated $500,000 to Trump's election lawsuits, and suggested Republican state legislators invalidate election results, appointing presidential electors who would vote for Trump.

2020: Defeated Jaime Harrison in Senate Election

In 2020, Graham defeated Jaime Harrison in the Senate election by more than ten percentage points, despite a competitive race and record fundraising by Harrison.

2020: Re-elected to U.S. Senate

In 2020, Graham was reelected to a fourth term in the U.S. Senate.

2020: Sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act

In 2020, Lindsey Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act, a bill designed to simplify the process for farmers to sell carbon credits on carbon trading markets in California and the Northeast.

2020: Graham declined to sign an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe.

In 2020, Lindsey Graham was one of 13 Republican senators who declined to sign an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

2020: Graham calls for investigation into voting irregularities based on postal worker's affidavit

In 2020, after receiving an affidavit from a Pennsylvania postal worker, Richard Hopkins, alleging backdating of mail ballots, Lindsey Graham called for investigations into voting irregularities. However, Hopkins later stated that Project Veritas wrote the affidavit for him.

2020: Graham supports Trump's reelection

In April 2018, Graham said that he would support Trump's reelection in 2020.

2020: Trump regrets endorsing Graham's Senate campaign

In April 2024, Trump expressed regret for endorsing Graham in his 2020 Senate campaign, after Graham criticized Trump for not supporting a federal abortion ban.

2020: Graham sought reelection to the Senate

In February 2019, Graham mentions that having a good relationship with Trump would help his prospects of reelection to the Senate in 2020.

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.

May 28, 2021: Graham votes against creating January 6 commission

On May 28, 2021, Lindsey Graham voted against creating the January 6 commission.

July 8, 2021: Called Biden's decision a disaster in the making

On July 8, 2021, Lindsey Graham called Joe Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan a "disaster in the making", predicting it would endanger the U.S. and could lead to "another 9/11".

August 2021: Report on Graham's call with Biden after the election

In August 2021, The New York Times reported that Lindsey Graham called Joe Biden after the election to revive their friendship and claimed that his call for a special counsel investigation of Biden's son, Hunter, during the campaign was only to appease Trump supporters. A Graham spokesman disputed the Times's account.

2021: End of Judiciary Committee Chairmanship

In 2021, Lindsey Graham's tenure as the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary came to an end.

February 2022: Graham introduced bipartisan legislation to incentivize tech companies to remove child sexual abuse material

In February 2022, Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal introduced bipartisan legislation, as part of the EARN IT Act, to incentivize tech companies to remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from their platforms and remove blanket immunity for violations of laws related to online child pornography.

March 3, 2022: Suggested assassinating Vladimir Putin

On March 3, 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Lindsey Graham tweeted suggesting that someone in Russia should assassinate Vladimir Putin, drawing backlash from other American politicians.

May 2022: Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe.

In May 2022, Lindsey Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade to ensure that every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms.

June 2022: Graham asserted that all conservatives believed the Constitution does not give the federal government the right to regulate abortion.

In June 2022, Lindsey Graham asserted that all conservatives "believed that there's nothing in the Constitution giving the federal government the right to regulate abortion".

August 2022: Graham said that "states should decide the issue of abortion".

In August 2022, Lindsey Graham said that states should decide the issue of abortion and that he had been consistent on this.

August 2022: Stated states should decide the issue of marriage

In August 2022, after the House approved a bill to recognize same-sex marriages, Lindsey Graham stated that individual states should decide the issue of marriage and opposed the federal government taking over defining marriage.

September 2022: Graham introduced legislation to institute a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

In September 2022 Lindsey Graham introduced legislation to institute a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the patient, stating that this is a human right issue and advocating a national minimum standard.

2022: Graham supported a bipartisan agreement on gun control

In 2022, Lindsey Graham became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included a red flag provision, a support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under the age of 21, and penalties for straw purchases.

2022: Reiterated support of the Defense of Marriage Act

In 2022, Lindsey Graham reiterated his support of the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman and enacted non-recognition of same-sex marriages at the federal level.

January 28, 2023: Graham supports Trump at campaign rally

On January 28, 2023, Lindsey Graham appeared at Donald Trump's first prime-time 2024 campaign rally, expressing his support for Trump on Fox News.

May 26, 2023: Remarks in an edited video released by the Office of the President of Ukraine

On May 26, 2023, the Office of the President of Ukraine released an edited video showing Lindsey Graham remarking that "the Russians are dying" and that American military assistance to Ukraine was the "best money we've ever spent", which drew criticism. The unedited version later clarified that the remarks were unrelated.

May 29, 2023: Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Graham

On May 29, 2023, the Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Lindsey Graham for his comments about the war. In response, Graham tweeted that he would "wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin's corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor" and would submit to the ICC if Russia attempted to serve the warrant.

October 10, 2023: Expressed support for Israel during the Gaza war

On October 10, 2023, Lindsey Graham tweeted his support for Israel during the Gaza war, calling the conflict a "religious war" and suggesting Gaza should be "flattened".

October 31, 2023: Said no amount of civilian casualties in Gaza would lead him to question Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas.

On October 31, 2023, Lindsey Graham said that no amount of civilian casualties in Gaza would lead him to question Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas.

November 2023: Co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act

In November 2023, Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, endorsed by the Sierra Club, proposing a carbon tariff on energy and industrial imports from countries with greater greenhouse gas emissions than the United States.

2023: Votes against Fiscal Responsibility Act

In 2023, Lindsey Graham was one of 31 Senate Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

2023: Graham ranked highly for bipartisanship

In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Graham in the top third of senators for bipartisanship.

February 13, 2024: Voted against the Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appropriations bill

On February 13, 2024, Lindsey Graham voted against the Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appropriations bill due to the inclusion of border control efforts. He later joined 79 colleagues in passing the appropriations when they were packaged as one bill in April.

March 9, 2024: Stated Palestinian children are taught to kill all the Jews

On March 9, 2024, Lindsey Graham stated that "For decades now, Palestinian children have been taught through UNRWA and other agencies to kill all the Jews" and advocated for dismantling the Palestinian school system.

April 2024: Graham criticizes Trump for lack of support for abortion ban

In April 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump for not supporting a federal abortion ban, leading Trump to express regret for endorsing Graham in his 2020 Senate campaign.

May 8, 2024: Warned against halting arms supply to Israel during the Gaza war

On May 8, 2024, Lindsey Graham warned the Pentagon against halting arms supply to Israel during the Gaza war, stating, "Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can't afford to lose. This is Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids." This statement caused a debate in the Japanese National Diet.

May 2024: Graham's stance on accepting presidential election results

In May 2024, Lindsey Graham stated that he would accept the results of the presidential election if there was no "massive cheating."

July 2024: Graham reacts to Biden's announcement not to seek reelection

In July 2024, after President Biden announced he would not seek reelection, Lindsey Graham wished Biden well and expressed appreciation for his lifelong service to the nation.

September 2024: Graham lobbies for winner-take-all system in Nebraska

In September 2024, concerned about a potential tie in the Electoral College, Lindsey Graham visited Nebraska and lobbied Governor Jim Pillen to call a special session to adopt a winner-take-all system for its electoral votes, which ultimately failed.

October 2024: Graham criticizes Harris and Biden-Harris immigration policy

In October 2024, Lindsey Graham stated that Republican voters who supported Kamala Harris were supporting "the most radical nominee in history of American politics" and argued that the Biden-Harris immigration policy was a greater "danger to this country" than Trump's rhetoric.

2024: Graham on Trump's election victory

In 2024, Graham called Trump's election victory "the biggest comeback in American history".

2024: Graham campaigns and advocates for Trump during election

In 2024, Lindsey Graham campaigned and publicly advocated for Donald Trump on news programs, including Meet The Press, and called on other Republican politicians to campaign for Trump.

January 14, 2025: Announced Officials for 2026 Reelection Campaign

On January 14, 2025, Graham announced lead officials for his 2026 reelection campaign and reported $15.6 million in campaign fundraising.

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.