Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, arrived in Israel Thursday for discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his team, highlighting the continued U.S.-Israel partnership amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“I just landed in Israel, the one and only Jewish State, and America’s strongest ally and friend since its founding,” Graham said. “If you think I flew all the way to Israel after having not slept much in days to make sure we do not hold the ayatollah’s murderous regime accountable…then you have missed a lot.”
Graham’s post emphasized Iran, describing its leadership as “the largest state sponsor of terrorism with Americans’ blood on its hands” and accusing Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons to advance what he called “sick religious Nazi beliefs.” He added that he looked forward to consulting with Israeli officials to “build upon the momentum created by President Trump’s bold and unprecedented leadership in Iran, where he picked the people over the ayatollah.”
The senator framed the potential downfall of Iran’s leadership as historically significant, likening it to the fall of the Berlin Wall and noting his alignment with Trump’s policies. “We cannot allow this historic moment to pass – and I agree with President Trump. The downfall of the ayatollah and his regime would be on par with the fall of the Berlin Wall,” Graham wrote.
Graham’s visit comes amid a period of heightened U.S.-Iran tensions, including the Trump administration’s recent sanctions on Iranian officials. It follows a prior meeting between Graham and Netanyahu less than a month ago, underscoring ongoing coordination between U.S. and Israeli leadership on security and diplomatic matters.
In his post, Graham also highlighted the Trump-Netanyahu alliance as a cornerstone of U.S.-Israel relations. “The Trump-Netanyahu alliance has thus far been one of the strongest partnerships in the history of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and I am hopeful it will pay dividends in the near future,” he said, noting the Middle East is “on the verge of previously unimaginable change” and describing the timing of his visit as critical.
By framing the visit around both U.S. leadership and support for Israel, Graham positioned the trip as a continuation of the administration’s strategy to apply pressure on Iran while reinforcing ties with long-standing allies in the region.
