Trump reveals Lindsey Graham wanted Ukraine war to continue: 'He was into keeping it going'
Trump, talking to Jake Tapper, says about Lindsey Graham that "I wanted to see the war with Ukraine end very quickly. I think he was more into, you know, keeping it going, frankly." pic.twitter.com/SZnFYJTvsp
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 12, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump revealed a previously undisclosed disagreement with the late Senator Lindsey Graham, saying his longtime Republican ally wanted Russia's war against Ukraine to continue while he pushed for a quicker end to the conflict.
The comments offered one of Trump's clearest descriptions of where he and Graham privately differed on foreign policy. They came as he reflected on one of his final conversations with the South Carolina senator before Graham's death.
Trump details private Ukraine disagreement
Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday, July 12, Trump said he and Graham "disagreed a little bit" on Ukraine even though they saw eye to eye on most other issues.
"Well, we disagreed a little bit. But overall, you know, I'm a big Israel person. He was certainly that," Trump said before turning to Ukraine.
"I wanted to see the war with Ukraine end very quickly. I think he was more into, you know, keeping it going. Frankly, he was very, very mil***** having to do with that," Trump said.
He contrasted Graham's approach with his own, adding, "I was from the standpoint of 25,000 people dying every month. I didn't like that."
Trump described Graham as "a very strong military person" before adding, "So am I, but I think we used it a little bit differently."
Even so, Trump emphasized that their disagreement did not define their relationship.
"We probably had a little bit of a different attitude, but we got along on it. Essentially, we agreed. And essentially we agreed on almost everything," he said.
President says Graham sounded fine before his death
Radio traffic from response to Sen. Graham’s home: Emergency radio traffic indicates that Senator Lindsey Graham suffered chest pains before going into cardiac arrest Saturday night. Efforts to revive the South Carolina lawmaker were not successful. Graham died two days after his… pic.twitter.com/xj9baJZr33
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 12, 2026
Trump also recounted speaking with Graham shortly after the senator returned to Washington following his 10th trip to Ukraine.
According to Trump, Graham called to discuss what he described as his "great trip."
"I spoke to him, just, he had already landed," Trump said. "Was probably at his place. I don't know where he was, but I spoke to him."
Trump said he was later informed that Graham had suffered a medical emergency.
Late Sen Lindsey Graham (R-SC) walks on stage after a win during his election night party on November 3, 2020, in Columbia, South Carolina (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)"And then I got a call a few hours later saying late in the evening, at 2.00 in the morning, actually," Trump said.
"But they found out about it, I think about 8 am about his problem. So it had to be something very quick because he was fine when I spoke to him. Other than being tired, he was fine," he added.
Ukraine honored Lindsey Graham's steadfast support
While Trump reflected on their private foreign policy differences, Ukrainian leaders publicly praised Graham's support for their country.
The Kyiv Independent reported on Sunday that Graham had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 10 to discuss strengthening Ukraine's air defenses and progress on a Russian sanctions bill in the United States.
The publication also reported that Graham's death prompted tributes from senior Ukrainian officials, with Zelensky calling the longtime senator "a true champion of freedom and the values that make our world safer."
