Graham Called Yearslong Push for War with Iran ‘Best Thing’ in New Documentary
Sandego.net – Never-before-seen footage released Sunday reveals that Sen. Lindsey Graham called his yearslong push for war with Iran “the best thing I’ve ever done.” The documentary captures the late senator comparing President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill during pivotal moments of the conflict.
Graham, widely recognized as a Washington war hawk, granted British filmmaker Alex Holder unprecedented access to record over 400 hours of footage spanning several years. The senator positioned himself at the heart of Trump’s second-term ambitions, particularly regarding the Iran war and Pentagon modernization efforts. Throughout the documentary, viewers see Graham making calls with Trump, Netanyahu, and even Democratic former national security adviser Jake Sullivan as he championed military action.
Key Moments from the Footage
“It was pretty remarkable, and we had this four-and-a-half-year period of just the most, really unparalleled access, to one of the most consequential politicians in the United States,” Holder told CNN’s Manu Raju on “Inside Politics.” Graham evolved over the past decade into one of Trump’s most trusted counselors on critical geopolitical matters, according to a longtime Trump adviser who spoke with CNN earlier this month.
“He looked at Lindsey as one of his foreign policy experts,” the adviser said. “He didn’t always agree with him, but I think he respected him.”
In the newly released footage, Graham is seen discussing his conversations with Netanyahu and encouraging the Israeli leader to take more decisive action. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. He loves blowing stuff up,” Graham remarked about Trump in one clip. “He hasn’t tweeted much at all,” Graham added. “He’s been a great wartime president. I said last night that Trump and Bibi are like Roosevelt and Churchill.”
What Experts Say About Graham’s Legacy
Despite the generally positive portrayal, Graham and Trump’s relationship wasn’t always smooth. Holder noted that additional footage will highlight moments of tension between the two leaders. “That, you’ll have to stay tuned for,” he said regarding upcoming releases.
As the Iran conflict continues, some of Graham’s early predictions proved inaccurate. “In three to four weeks, we should have them in a spot where they start losing control of some cities … get the Arabs more openly involved tomorrow, or by the end of the week, and then have almost irreversible momentum,” Graham stated during a March call with Sullivan. The documentary also features lighter moments, including a phone call from Elton John singing “Happy Birthday” as Graham celebrated his 70th birthday.
Holder told the Wall Street Journal he plans to release the complete documentary titled “Lindsey’s Game” within the coming months. Graham agreed to participate for posterity and to inspire future generations to pursue government service. The senator passed away earlier this month at age 71.
Memorial services are scheduled for this week in Washington and in Graham’s home state of South Carolina. CNN’s Sarah Ferris and Adam Cancryn contributed to this report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Graham say about his Iran war efforts? Graham called his yearslong push for war with Iran “the best thing I’ve ever done” in the newly released documentary footage.
How much footage was captured for the documentary? British filmmaker Alex Holder recorded over 400 hours of footage of Graham over a four-and-a-half-year period.
When will the full documentary be released? Holder plans to release “Lindsey’s Game” in the coming months, with additional footage to be revealed later.
What was Graham’s relationship with Trump regarding foreign policy? Despite occasional disagreements on issues like Ukraine support and Iran war negotiations, Trump respected Graham as a foreign policy expert and trusted counselor.
