Senator Lindsey Graham morphed slowly but emphatically into one of Donald Trump’s loudest cheerleaders.
His death leaves a void, not only in the Senate but inside the President’s ear.
Graham was known to be a close friend, golfing partner and ‘Senate whisperer’ of the President. He also played the role of Capitol Hill fixer, helping smooth over Trump’s combativeness and acidity with Senators he was often at odds with.
Most recently, he served as an unwavering champion of the President’s audacious attempt at regime change in Iran.
Graham’s passing has raised a pressing question from the Senate cloakroom to the West Wing: Who can Trump lean on as a friendly sherpa now?
Senators Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Eric Schmitt of Missouri and Tim Scott of South Carolina are among those closest to the President, a White House official told the Daily Mail.
Trump warmed to these lawmakers over their early support of his 2024 campaign and their backing of his legislation.
‘These are all guys he likes to hang around personally too,’ the White House official added.
Other notable Senators that have reportedly close ties to Trump include Katie Britt of Alabama and Rick Scott of Florida.
Trump’s ‘Senate whisperer’ Lindsey Graham died over the weekend. Now some Republicans are wondering who can fill his shoes
Senator Katie Britt of Alabama was said to be one Senator who could fill the void left behind by Graham. One senior GOP congressional aide noted how she was mentored by Graham
Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt is also said to be close with the President, sources told the Daily Mail
One senior GOP Senate aide told the Daily Mail that Britt was the first to mind when asked about who is closest to Trump.
They noted how Britt, who took office in 2023, was mentored by Graham.
‘Nobody can fill Senator [Lindsey] Graham’s void. Nobody. None of us,’ Britt said on Tuesday.
When Darline Graham Nordone entered the Senate to be sworn into her late brother’s vacant seat, she was flanked by Britt and Senate Republican Leader John Thune.
But Trump has reportedly had issues with Britt in the past.
Earlier this year, after Trump posted a video depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle as an apes, which was deleted soon after posting, Britt condemned the post.
Later Trump reportedly fumed to aides that Britt was dead to him, CNN reported in February.
‘He’s close with Rick Scott, but so few people like him,’ another White House official told Politico. ‘I could see Katie Britt trying to fill that void.’
However, the White House pushed back on Trump playing any favorites.
Schmitt sat with Trump during a Super Bowl party this year
Senator Bill Hagerty was also noted as a close Senate ally of the President. Above he is shown with Elon Musk (R) and Senator Ted Cruz (center left) at a SpaceX rocket launch in November 2024
‘President Trump enjoys close relationships with many Republican senators and looks forward to working closely with them to get the SAVE America Act across the finish line,’ White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail, raising the legislation that Trump has been demanding to reform US election practices.
In Graham’s absence it is an open question as to who will be the President’s next BFF.
The President has noted that when he had problems with the Senate, the South Carolina Republican was good at mending ties.
‘He could go in and get something approved,’ Trump said in an interview with NBC about Graham, noting his deft political ability. ‘He would just get people on his side. … I wouldn’t often ask, but if I had a problem with a Democrat he could work it out.’
In 2018, when a criminal reform bill backed by Trump enflamed GOP skeptics on Capitol Hill, Graham helped sell the bill to his Republican counterparts.
The First Step Act eventually passed with large bipartisan support, in part due to Graham’s help.
Already the President has tapped several of his other closest Senate GOP allies for larger administration roles.
JD Vance, a former Ohio Senator, was tapped as the President’s VP, former Florida Senator Marco Rubio was appointed to Secretary of State and former Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin was asked to serve as Homeland Security Secretary after Trump fired Kristi Noem.
With their absence, and the death of Graham, the President is left with a smaller roster of close allies in the Senate chamber.
Trump waves while standing next to Senators Katie Britt (center right) and Tommy Tuberville (right)
Graham successfully startled two worlds in his work with Trump, keeping one foot in the White House and the other in the Senate – which has caused headaches for the President recently.
Trump has railed against the filibuster and has called on the tradition-loving Senate to get rid of the 200-year-old practice so that he could more easily pass legislation that supports his agenda.
The Republican President has also called on Thune to fire the Senate Parliamentarian, a civilian position that can weigh in on what certain legislation can and cannot include.
Senate Republicans have not answered Trump’s calls on either front and Graham was opposed to abolishing the filibuster and firing the parliamentarian.
But as Trump looks for eager allies to do his bidding on Capitol Hill, some aides say that the President has an array of options to choose from.
‘[Senator John] Barrasso and Trump are extremely close,’ another senior GOP Senate aide said of the second most powerful Republican in the Senate, noting that the pair speak often.
A third Republican Senate staffer pointed to Senator Tommy Tuberville, who they claim talks to Trump about everything from football to Iran.
As Senators jockey to get access to Trump’s ear, it remains to be seen who can fill the shoes Graham left behind.
