Lindsey Graham on CNN: ‘Pisses Me Off’ When Trump Bashes John McCain

Coming off of an incredibly emotional speech on the Senate floor, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) spoke to CNN’s Dana Bash about his view of the relationship between President Donald Trump and late senator John McCain.

“How can Lindsey Graham be the man and politician that John McCain was and strive to be even more so and play golf with Donald Trump, be there for Donald Trump and, frankly, sometimes, carry the water of Donald Trump?” Bash asked point-blank.

“It’s pretty simple, if you know anything about me,” Graham replied. “I want to be relevant. I want to make sure that this president, Donald Trump, who I didn’t vote for, ran against, is successful.”

“We went to President-Elect [Barack] Obama’s side in Chicago, John and I,” Graham continued. “‘What can we do to help you, Mr. President?’ I regret the relationship between the two. John is my dearest friend in the world and I’m going to try to help President Trump. And I will because I think country first means that. And if he’ll listen, I’ll talk to him. I’ve enjoyed my time with him.”

But he also tore into Trump for the negative comments he’s made about McCain.

“When he says something bad about John, it pisses me off,” Graham said. However, he quickly added: “He called yesterday after my speech and he couldn’t have been nicer. He said, ‘That was very sad. I just want to let you know that you did right by your friend.’ I said, ‘Thank you, Mr. President.”

“The president called you?” Bash asked a little incredulously.

“Yes, just right out of the blue,” Graham replied. “And to those who want me to say the only way you can honor John McCain is to fight Donald Trump and try to kick him out of office, I don’t agree. I’m going to do what I think is best for the country using what John taught me about the country.”

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]