Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina reportedly delivered some of his most forceful praise yet for President Donald Trump on Tuesday, warning that Iran’s supreme leader could face deadly consequences if the regime continues cracking down on protesters, while hailing Trump as “the greatest president of all time.”
Graham’s comments came just days after a dramatic U.S. military operation in Venezuela, where American forces seized President Nicolás Maduro and brought him, along with his wife, to New York to face federal drug trafficking charges. Both pleaded not guilty during their arraignment. In the aftermath, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president.
Trump has since laid down demands for Rodríguez, warning that a “second wave” of U.S. action could follow if those conditions are not met. Among the demands are allowing U.S. oil companies to rebuild Venezuela’s battered energy sector, with the possibility that those companies could later be reimbursed by the U.S. government.
Graham, a long-time foreign policy hawk, appeared on Fox News’ Hannity, where he praised Trump’s handling of Venezuela and issued stark warnings to other foreign leaders. Graham suggested that anyone attempting to defy or undermine Trump could expect a fate similar to Maduro’s.
“If you defy him, if you’re one of the holdovers and you try to undercut him, what happened to Maduro is gonna happen to you,” Graham said. He added that while dictators and strongmen may be removed, he believes a future remains where countries like Venezuela eventually hold free and fair elections that produce governments friendly to the United States.
“The dictator, the thug is in jail in New York,” Graham said, framing the Maduro arrest as a turning point.
The senator went even further, offering glowing praise for Trump’s domestic and foreign policy record. “Donald J. Trump, in my view, is the greatest president of all time,” Graham said. He credited Trump with cutting taxes and cutting spending, while claiming that drug traffickers and narcoterrorist leaders are now on the run because of Trump’s policies.
Graham also turned his attention to Cuba, predicting major change ahead. He said the Cuban government is on what he called “death watch,” arguing the country depends heavily on Russia and Venezuela, both of which he described as now being boxed in. Graham claimed it is only a matter of time before the communist regime in Cuba, which he said has oppressed its people since the mid-20th century, collapses and is replaced by a democracy aligned with the United States.
The senator then addressed ongoing unrest in Iran, where protests over the country’s economy have turned deadly. At least 36 people have been killed over the past 10 days during demonstrations. Speaking directly to Iranians, Graham contrasted Trump with former President Barack Obama, saying Trump would stand firmly behind those demanding change.
“We support you. Donald J. Trump is not Barack Obama. He has your back,” Graham said.
He followed that message with a blunt warning to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Graham claimed that if Iran’s government continues killing protesters, Trump would respond with lethal force against the regime’s leadership.
“To the Ayatollah, you need to understand, if you keep killing your people who are demanding a better life, Donald J. Trump is gonna kill you,” Graham said. He predicted massive change for Iran and called the current regime a “Nazi regime,” telling Iranians that help is coming.
Graham’s remarks underscored his belief that Trump’s aggressive approach marks a sharp break from previous administrations and signals a new era of unapologetic American power on the world stage.
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