Trump Praises Lindsey Graham – But Trashes Senator’s Republican Cred: ‘He’s a Progressive’

Former President Donald Trump did Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) no favors during an interview with Fox Business, telling the network’s Larry Kudlow that the senator is “a progressive.”

Graham has been a staunch supporter of Trump since the former president wrapped up the GOP nomination in 2016. Just months before, when Trump led his Republican rivals, Graham declared, “My party has gone batshit crazy.” But the senator boarded the Trump train and has never looked back. The former president has been close with Graham, though he apparently hasn’t forgotten the senator’s initial opposition to him.

During the interview on Fox Business, which aired Friday, Trump went on at some length about imposing tariffs as he has repeatedly promised to do. He also pledged to impose retaliatory tariffs on any country that does so to the U.S.

“If China charges us – on a car – 100%, we charge them on a car 100%,” Trump said before mentioning Graham apropos of nothing. “But you know, I have a certain senator named Lindsey Graham. And he’s not into this as much as he is other things. And he’s a nice guy, good guy. And you know, he cares. He loves the country even though he’s a progressive. That’s ok. These are minor details.”

The former president went on to claim that Graham was unsure of the particulars about tariffs.

But Trump himself seems unclear on how tariffs work. He has repeatedly claimed tariffs will raise money and even suggested the U.S. will be able to fund childcare initiatives with tariffs. The fact is, however, tariffs are paid by the importing business, and not the exporter. Therefore, tariffs would result in higher costs for importers, who would then pass on those costs in the form of higher prices for consumers. In effect, tariffs act as a tax on imported goods.

It wasn’t the first time Trump threw Graham under the bus. Last year during a rally in New Hampshire, he called the senator “a progressive,” which prompted the crowd to boo.

Watch above via Fox Business Network.

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