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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 |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Lindsey Graham has claimed that Trump will put a “whooping” on the Russian president | Lindsey 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 threatened. | |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| Long history of promoting wars and defense spending | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Funding from US defense contractors | Funding from US defense contractors |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Pushing for a bigger military budget | Pushing for a bigger military budget |
| In 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.” | |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| Framing Ukraine as America’s proxy war | Framing Ukraine as America’s proxy war |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |