Graham grew frustrated with Trump's Iran strategy before his death, unreleased doc footage reveals

WASHINGTON, DC: Unreleased documentary footage reportedly shows the late Senator Lindsey Graham expressing growing frustration with President Donald Trump's handling of the Iran war in the weeks before his death.

According to filmmaker Alex Holder, who documented Graham for nearly three years, the South Carolina politician grew increasingly frustrated with both the Trump administration and fellow Republicans over the Iran war. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the footage shows Graham arguing Trump had become too cautious after signing a preliminary agreement with Iran.

Lindsey Graham said Trump was becoming 'too hesitant' on Iran

Holder said Graham believed the administration was failing to publicly defend its approach to the conflict and that internal disagreements had complicated efforts to build support.

At one point, Graham said he had been battling "a lot of people inside" the administration who opposed deeper US involvement in the war. "Very few people are out selling this war from the administration. I'm shocked," Graham expressed.

According to Holder, Graham's frustration also extended to Trump after the president signed a preliminary memorandum of understanding with Iran in June.

During what Holder described as Graham's final recorded interview, conducted at a bagel shop in Columbia, South Carolina, just weeks before the senator's death on July 11, Graham said Trump was becoming increasingly reluctant to pursue a tougher approach. "He's letting this thing slip away," Graham remarked. "I got to go talk to him."

The footage also reportedly captures Graham celebrating the launch of US strikes earlier in the conflict, saying, "Look what we've done here. I almost cried," before adding that Trump had told him the operation was the "best thing I have ever done." 

Footage also reveals Lindsey Graham's concerns over Trump's negotiators

Other portions of the documentary reportedly show Graham discussing the administration's Middle East strategy with Jake Sullivan, who served as national security adviser under former President Joe Biden.

In one exchange, Graham questioned whether two of Trump's closest advisors should continue leading negotiations with Iran. "I can't do it with Jared, and I can't do it with Witkoff. They're just too conflicted. It's gotta be Rubio," Graham told Sullivan, referring to Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Since the conflict began, Kushner and Witkoff have served as key administration negotiators in talks with Iran. A White House official defended both men, saying, "Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are excellent dealmakers whose results speak for themselves."

Holder, who was granted extensive access to Graham beginning in 2023, is producing a documentary titled 'Lindsey's Game', built from hundreds of hours of footage recorded before the senator's death. According to Holder, Graham hoped the project would offer a candid look at his years in public office and his role in shaping US foreign policy.