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Graham threatens Putin: US war hawk escalates rhetoric in alignment with military lobby Graham threatens Putin: US war hawk escalates rhetoric in alignment with military lobby
(about 16 hours later)
Lindsey Graham has claimed that Trump will put a “whooping” on the Russian presidentLindsey Graham has claimed that Trump will put a “whooping” on the Russian president
US President Donald Trump will “whoop” his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and punish countries importing Russian oil, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has stated. UUS President Donald Trump will “whoop” his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and punish countries importing Russian oil, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has threatened.
In an interview with Fox on Sunday, Graham suggested that China, India and Brazil could face 100% tariffs for “helping” Putin. He claimed that Trump has been “tough on Iran” and warned that similar action would soon be directed at Russia, claiming that Putin’s “turn is coming.”  In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Graham claimed that if Trump returns to power, nations like China, India and Brazil could face 100% tariffs for “helping” Putin. He said Trump had been “tough on Iran” and warned that similar action would be taken against Russia, adding, “Putin’s turn is coming.”
Graham previously introduced a bill to impose 500% tariffs on states conducting business with Russia. However, the Senate later froze the legislation after Trump announced a 50-day deadline for Moscow to reach a settlement on Ukraine. If no deal is reached, the US president has threatened to impose 100% secondary tariffs on Russian oil buyers. The comments come just weeks after Trump issued a 50-day ultimatum for Moscow to reach a deal on Ukraine. If that window closes without agreement, the president has threatened sweeping 100% secondary tariffs on all Russian oil exports. Graham’s remarks may signal how enforcement will unfold.
History of promoting increased military spending and interventions  Graham previously introduced legislation to impose 500% tariffs on states conducting business with Russia. Though it was shelved, Sunday’s interview suggests that elements of the bill could serve as a blueprint for future Trump policy.
Graham has consistently supported a hardline approach to countries the US deems its adversaries. He has backed nearly every major US military intervention of the past two decades, including the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the NATO-led campaign in Libya, and operations in Syria. He has also endorsed continued military aid to Israel and Ukraine, and praised US strikes against Iran. HLong history of promoting wars and defense spending
Public campaign finance records and Graham’s long voting record have suggested an alignment of his interests with the US defense industry. In addition to his legislative support for military funding, Graham has also held key roles on Senate committees overseeing defense and foreign policy, including the Appropriations, Armed Services, and Judiciary Committees, which has given him direct influence over weapons spending, military aid, and foreign intervention policy. The confirmed bachelor has consistently backed a hardline approach toward countries the US deems adversarial. He supported every major US military intervention of the last two decades, including the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, the NATO-led campaign in Libya, and operations in Syria. He has also strongly endorsed continued US military aid to Ukraine and Israel, and has praised American strikes on Iranian assets.
Donations from US defense companies  As a longtime member of key Senate committees—Appropriations, Armed Services, and Judiciary—Graham has had significant influence over US weapons spending, military aid packages, and interventionist foreign policy.
According to OpenSecrets, he has received over $55,000 from Boeing since 2019, in addition to donations from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and individuals employed by the Department of Defense. He has also received campaign contributions from Political Action Committees (PACs) specifically tied to defense‑industry interests, such as the Free Syria PAC, which supports US intervention in Syria, and L3Harris Technologies, a Defense Electronics PAC. Funding from US defense contractors
In the 2015–2016 election cycle, Graham also received $760,244 from defense-linked donors, according to a joint investigation by Time and the Center for Public Integrity. The report noted that Senate Budget Committee Republicans received an average of $472,000 each from top contractors, placing Graham well above the committee average. Аccording to OpenSecrets, Graham has received over $55,000 from Boeing since 2019, along with campaign donations from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and individuals affiliated with the Department of Defense. Additional contributions have come from PACs linked to the defense sector, such as Free Syria PAC and L3Harris Technologies’ Defense Electronics PAC.
Increasing US military budget  A joint investigation by Time and the Center for Public Integrity revealed that in the 2015–2016 election cycle, Graham received $760,244 from defense-linked donors—well above the $472,000 average for his fellow Senate Budget Committee Republicans.
In 2015, Graham backed a measure to increase military spending by $38 billion through a special fund known as the Overseas Contingency Operations account. The fund allowed the government to bypass normal budget limits, leading some critics to describe it as a way to finance wars off the books. Graham claimed the increase was needed to address “the growing threats” to the US. Pushing for a bigger military budget
In February 2025, Graham also introduced a budget plan to increase defense spending by $150 billion using a fast-track process that bypasses the Senate filibuster. He called the proposal a way to give Trump’s team the resources they need “in a troubled world.” IIn 2015, Graham supported a $38 billion increase in military spending through the Overseas Contingency Operations account, a fund that bypassed standard budget caps. Critics described it as a way to finance wars off the books, but Graham argued the rise was necessary to “address growing threats.”
Continued support for war In February 2025, Graham introduced a fast-track proposal to raise defense spending by $150 billion, calling it a way to give Trump “the resources he needs in a troubled world.”
The senator has been a staunch supporter of continued US military aid to Kiev, framing its conflict with Russia as a proxy war being fought “on behalf of Washington.”  Framing Ukraine as America’s proxy war
Moscow has designated Graham a terrorist and extremist. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called him an “embarrassment” to the US. The senator has positioned Ukraine’s conflict with Russia as a proxy war being waged “on behalf of Washington.” He has championed continued aid to Kiev as part of a broader US strategy to try and weaken Mosow without direct involvement.
Due to his stance, Graham has been designated a terrorist and extremist by the Russian government. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently called him an “embarrassment” to the United States.
Graham’s remarks may reflect the emerging contours of the second Trump term: aggressive economic penalties on rivals, a push to damage Russia, and massive boosts to US defense spending. Whether these policies succeed remains to be seen—but they’re no longer hypothetical.