Meghan McCain Warns Trump Admin That Lindsey Graham Is ‘Scaring People'
Conservative commentator Meghan McCain on Sunday posted a message on X urging the Trump administration to “stop sending” GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina out to speak for the administration over his messaging regarding the Iran war.
“I've known Lindsey Graham since I was a child,” McCain, daughter of the late Republican U.S. Senator John McCain, wrote. “I am imploring anyone who will listen in the Trump administration to stop sending this man out as a surrogate. He is scaring people and doing damage to whatever message you're trying to sell to the American public about the Iran war.”
Newsweek reached out to Graham’s office and the White House by email on Sunday afternoon for comment.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has faced national backlash to the way officials handled “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota, which resulted in the fatal shooting of two Americans, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, and internationally to the incursion and capture of Venezuela‘s leader Nicolás Maduro and joint strikes with Israel on Iran that started last weekend, codenamed “Operation Epic Fury.”
The way the administration has responded to the criticism and backlash has, itself, proven controversial. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be relieved of her duties and moved to a new position at the end of March, with many pointing to her response to the two shootings in Minnesota, in which she labeled both victims domestic terrorists before investigations had been carried out, as significant factors in President Donald Trump‘s decision to replace her.
Messaging on Iran has proven a particularly delicate issue, with many congressional members saying the administration did not make clear why they moved to strike the Mideast nation without making a case to the American public first, as did President George W. Bush ahead of the invasion of Iraq.
What To Know
McCain’s comment follows Graham’s appearance on Fox News’ Sundays with Maria Bartiromo, during which he said the U.S. was going to “blow the hell” out of Iran.
“This regime is in a death throe now, it is going to be on its knees, it’s going to fall, and when it falls, we’re going to peace like no other time,” Graham, a staunch Trump supporter, said. “We’re going to have prosperity unlike anyone could ever imagine. Peace brings prosperity.”
“You can’t do it by talking,” the senator continued. “The Democrats criticized this operation: They didn’t do a damn thing. These men and women in the military should make us all proud.”
McCain reposted the comment, with responses under her post highlighting the belief Graham is likely striking the tone that the administration wants.
Max Blumenthal, the editor of independent news site The Grayzone, responded to McCain and wrote: “Graham honestly articulates the sadistic, borderline genocidal violence which defines the war on Iran.”
Others targeted McCain personally, with Brett MacDonald, founder and publisher of independent news site The Nerve, writing under McCain’s post: “Yes, the problem is that he’s damaging your war’s PR campaigns. It’s not that the war itself is entirely undesired by the public.”
Graham Glib on Global Policy
Graham has never taken a light touch to foreign policy. In early February, in response to growing criticism and concern about the president’s desire to takeover Greenland, Graham in an interview with Politico said, “Who gives a s*** who owns Greenland? I don’t.”
The comment stirred public backlash, with a prominent Swedish economist and author calling his approach “a disastrous disrespect.”
During his Sunday interview with Bartiromo, Graham talked about Iran and Cuba, the next country the president could target after his approach to Venezuela and Iran. Trump over the weekend attended a summit in Miami during which he said he looked “forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba” and said the current government in Havana was in “its last moments of life.”
Graham showed off a “Free Cuba” hat, saying, “Stay tuned: The liberation of Cuba is upon us, it’s just a matter of time now,” and then a hat that said “Make Iran Great Again,” adding Trump has said the only way to make Iran great is “for the people to take over.”
“We’re marching through the world, we’re cleaning out the bad guys, we’re going to have relationships with new people that will make us prosperous and safe,” Graham said. “I’ve never seen anybody like it: This is Ronald Reagan-Plus.”
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This story was originally published March 8, 2026 at 3:03 PM.