Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham made multiple trips to Israel in recent weeks to gather ammunition for his push to get President Trump to strike Iran, sitting down with members of the country’s spy agency along the way.
“They’ll tell me things our own government won’t tell me,” Graham told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The South Carolina Republican also admitted to advising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the best way to pitch Trump on military action, according to the same report. Netanyahu ultimately presented intelligence to the president that helped convince him to green-light the operation, WSJ reported.
Israel Hayom, an Israeli outlet, confirmed the tight relationship between Graham and Netanyahu, describing the senator as one of four central figures behind the war. The outlet reported that Graham flew back to Mar-a-Lago from his Middle East tour carrying word that Gulf states wanted the U.S. to act, a message that clashed with what was being reported publicly at the time. (RELATED: Trump Says He’s Not Necessarily Looking For Democracy In Iran)
Graham’s Iran campaign did not start with Israel. He first raised the issue with Trump during a round of golf shortly after the 2024 election, the Journal reported. For months, he worked the president alongside retired Gen. Jack Keane and former Bush speechwriter Marc Thiessen, with the trio rotating calls to the White House. Graham also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ahead of the strikes. Middle East Eye reported that the visit was intended to secure Saudi consent for the operation, even as U.S.-Iran negotiations were still underway.
After repeated splits with President Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham has been able to find his way back to the inner circle—even convincing the president approve the high-stakes strike against Iran https://t.co/7KVUkHrUSD
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) June 29, 2025
Not everyone in Trump’s circle cheered the effort. Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul told the Journal there should be a law limiting how often Graham visits the White House or golfs with Trump. A Reuters/Ipsos survey found just 27 percent of Americans supported the strikes, The Hill reported.
Graham brushed off the criticism. He told the Journal he had already pitched Trump on bombing Iranian and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and floated potential action in Cuba. “What are they going to do to me?” he said.
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