Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) faced a chorus of boos before and during his speech at former President Trump’s large-scale rally in Pickens, South Carolina.
The town, known for delivering Trump his greatest victory margin in 2020, was expected to attract over 30,000 participants. Its strategic location enabled tens of thousands of attendees from Northeastern Georgia and North Carolina to make the relatively short drive.
According to a report from RSBN, rallygoers formed a line that stretched for at least 15 blocks, even before sunrise.
When the gates opened at 11 a.m., prominent South Carolina Republicans took the stage to address the crowd. U.S. Representative Russell Fry (R-SC) received thunderous cheers and applause when he declared South Carolina as “Trump country.”
However, Lindsey Graham did not fare as well. The longtime senator faced a continuous stream of boos from the crowd. The audience booed Graham when he was introduced and persisted in expressing their disapproval throughout his entire speech.
HAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA
Lindsey Graham booed in South Carolina today. pic.twitter.com/cHW5xMR4DI— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) July 1, 2023
“They booed him when he arrived and they booed him when he left. At no point did they cheer for him. At one point they even started chanting ‘Traitor.’ They believe he has sold them out,” one RSBN reporter said in a statement. “The people of South Carolina really did not like him.”
Graham has long been a controversial figure in Washington, largely due to his perceived tendency to align his positions with the prevailing political winds. His recent alignment with Trump contrasted with his decision to certify the 2020 election results and his public praise for his “good friend” Joe Biden on the Senate floor.
“I’ve traveled the world with Joe. I hoped he lost. I prayed he would lose. He won. He’s the legitimate President of the United States. I cannot convince people, certain groups, by my words, but I will tell you by my actions that maybe I above all others in this body need to say this,” Graham declared during the January 6 election certification in 2021.
In recent months, Graham’s aggressive stance on the Ukraine conflict has drawn criticism from his constituents. Just last week, he joined forces with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to issue a threat of annihilating Russia in the event of an attack on a frontline nuclear power plant.
“Senator Blumenthal and I want to put everyone on notice that the threat of the use of a nuclear device by Russia is real. The best way to deter this threat is to give Putin’s Russia clarity as to what happens if they use nuclear weapons,” Graham said last Friday. “Our message is to those around Putin. If you do this and follow his order, should he give it, you can expect a massive response from NATO. You will be at war with NATO.”
Graham’s calls for the United States to provide extensive military support, including fighter jets, Abrams battle tanks, cluster munitions, and long-range missiles, to ensure Ukraine’s victory at any cost have also stirred controversy.
