Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) is reportedly urging President Donald Trump to rethink whose counsel he relies on as the conflict with Iran stretches into its second month, offering a blunt warning: do not take advice from Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The war, which began after joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, has continued to intensify. Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel, U.S. military bases in the region, and oil facilities across Gulf states. Tehran has also closed the Strait of Hormuz, though it has allowed limited passage for ships willing to pay steep fees—effectively turning one of the world’s most critical waterways into a costly chokepoint.
Against that backdrop, Graham has emerged as one of the most vocal advocates for escalating the conflict. He has met multiple times with both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly pushing for more aggressive military action and even advising Netanyahu on how to make the case directly to the president.
During an appearance on CNN’s “Laura Coates Live,” Mace pushed back hard against that approach. Host Laura Coates played a clip of Graham suggesting the U.S. seize Iran’s Kharg Island, a key hub for the country’s oil production. In the clip, Graham urged Trump to “keep it up for a few more weeks,” arguing that controlling the island would cripple the Iranian regime.
Graham even invoked the historic World War II battle of Iwo Jima as a comparison, saying, “We did Iwo Jima. We can do this,” while referencing Marine expeditionary units moving toward the region.
Mace did not hold back in her response. “Seven thousand Marines died on the black sands of Iwo Jima,” she said, underscoring the human cost behind such comparisons. Her remarks reflected a broader skepticism about drawing easy parallels between past wars and present conflicts—particularly when the stakes involve American lives.
When asked directly about her opposition to Graham’s proposal, Mace was unequivocal. “I want President Trump to take Lindsey Graham out of the situation room,” she said. Pressed on whether Graham is actively advising the president, Mace replied, “He brags about it.”
She also questioned whether the senator has fully considered the consequences of escalating the conflict further. “I don’t think Lindsey Graham, for all of that hubris, has thought through or wargamed the consequences of us taking Kharg Island,” Mace added.
Her comments highlight a growing divide among Republicans over how aggressively to pursue military action against Iran. While some, like Graham, advocate for decisive and expanded operations, others are urging caution, warning that such moves could deepen U.S. involvement in a costly and unpredictable conflict.
The debate comes as the war shows no clear signs of ending, with each new strike and counterstrike raising the risk of further escalation. While proponents of stronger action argue it could bring a decisive outcome, critics worry that the path forward is far less certain—and that history offers sobering reminders of how quickly such conflicts can spiral.
Mace’s message to Trump reflects that tension: a call for strength, but also for restraint, and for a careful weighing of decisions that could carry consequences far beyond the battlefield.
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