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Graham: To be weak in Ukraine means losing Taiwan

Republican Lindsey Graham thinks Trump 鈥渦nderstands鈥 how to deal with Russian and Chinese aggression

US Senator Lindsey Graham has told HARDtalk that if American politicians are 鈥渨eak in Ukraine鈥, they will 鈥渓ose Taiwan鈥. Graham said that 鈥渆verybody wants to thump their chest about China, and that's good. Let鈥檚 stand up to the Chinese鈥.

Speaking to Stephen Sackur, he recalled telling Donald Trump that 鈥渋f you [give] Putin a lifeline, that's the worst signal you could send to China鈥. Graham insists that the former President 鈥渦nderstands鈥 that the 鈥渂est way to defend Taiwan鈥 is to deter China. He recounted telling the 45th US President that 鈥渋f the Chinese see us pull the plug on Ukraine鈥ou better get ready for a war with China.鈥

Senator Graham, who has endorsed Trump for a second term, was critical of Republican challenger Ron DeSantis, describing him as 鈥渁ll over the board鈥. Graham predicted that the 鈥渘ext commander-in-chief in 2025鈥 would find Putin 鈥渙n his back foot鈥.

The senator, who has represented South Carolina for two decades, also noted that although Trump 鈥渟et in motion鈥 the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the former President is 鈥渧ery glad鈥 it did not occur 鈥渙n his watch鈥.

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