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Did Sen. Lindsey Graham Call Trump a 'Race-Baiting, Xenophobic Bigot' in 2015?

Snopes has fact-checked rumors about the South Carolina Republican's sexuality, support for war and switch from a Trump critic to supporter.

by Rae Deng, Aug. 28, 2018


Sen. Lindsey Graham, an older white man with white hair in a severe side part.

Image courtesy of Jim Watson accessed on Getty Images


South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham has spent more than two decades in the U.S. Senate, and in June 2026 he won his primary campaign, setting him up for an expected fifth term. 

Graham, once known as a champion of moderate bipartisanship, gained additional national attention during President Donald Trump's first term for transitioning from a staunch critic to an ally of the president. Snopes has fact-checked claims about his previous positions, including the fact that the senator called Trump a "race-baiting xenophobic bigot" in 2015 but in 2018 claimed he had never heard the president "make a single racist statement." 

Graham's long-standing support for interventionist policies supporting war abroad has also made him the subject of rumors, including a true claim that he said the Republican Party was "killing all the right people." As a bachelor, Graham has also been targeted with rumors and deepfakes making claims about his sexuality and gender. 


By Rae Deng

Rae Deng specializes in government/politics and is based in Tacoma, Wash.

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A white man wearing a blue suit smiles. To the left, a X post says, "I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next Pope. This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!   The first Pope-U.S. President combination has many upsides. Watching for white smoke…. Trump MMXXVIII!"

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An online graphic accurately quoted the South Carolina Republican disparaging his then-opponent ...

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