The personal call, praising the South Carolina Senator as a ‘great guy,’ comes shortly after Graham’s high-profile foreign policy discussions with India regarding the Ukraine conflict.
Washington, D.C. – August 10, 2025: In a dramatic and unexpected turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump gave his “full endorsement” to Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday, surprising the South Carolina lawmaker with a personal phone call during a public gathering. The impromptu show of support is for Graham’s upcoming 2026 re-election bid.
Graham, who is seeking a fifth term in the United States Senate after first being elected in 2002, was addressing his supporters when his phone rang. On the other end was President Trump, who praised his long-time ally in front of the crowd.
“Lindsey, thank you so much, you’ve been my friend,” Trump said over the phone. “I know you are in a big race, and I don’t think it’s going to be a contest… Lindsey Graham, just so you know, full endorsement. Trump’s full endorsement. He’s a great guy. Every time I needed him, he was there for me.”
An ecstatic Graham took to social media platform X to express his gratitude. “Thank you for your surprise call, Mr. President! With your support, I’ll keep delivering the America First agenda to the great people of South Carolina,” he posted. He also added, in a nod to the current administration, “I’m glad to have been part of the most awesome six months in modern history led by President @realDonaldTrump.”
The endorsement is more than just a domestic political announcement; it also comes on the heels of Graham’s recent, high-stakes foreign policy discussions involving India. Just hours before the call, India’s Ambassador to the U.S., Vinay Mohan Kwatra, revealed on X that he had spoken to Graham about New Delhi’s perspective on energy security and the growing energy trade between the two nations.
This follows Graham’s public push for India to play a more active role in global affairs. Earlier this week, he had urged India to use its influence with Russia to help end the war in Ukraine, calling it a consequential step to improve India-U.S. relations. “As I have been telling my friends in India, one of the most consequential things they could do to improve India-U.S. relations is to help President Trump end this bloodbath in Ukraine,” he wrote on X.
With Trump’s powerful backing, Graham’s 2026 re-election campaign is set to start with a bang, cementing the strong alliance between the two prominent Republican figures.