‘A joke!’ Lindsey Graham scrambles after urging Trump to trash the Constitution

Key Takeaways:

• Senator Lindsey Graham suggested Donald Trump should run for a third term in 2028.
• The U.S. Constitution, via the 22nd Amendment, prohibits serving more than two terms.
• Graham previously claimed his “Trump 2028” call was “a joke.”
• Economist Dean Baker criticized Graham’s shift from early Trump critic to loyal supporter.
• A resolution by Rep. Andy Ogles attempted to amend the Constitution for a third term.

Lindsey Graham Praises Trump at the UN

International leaders and diplomats “were seen shaking their heads” as Donald Trump delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly, challenging issues ranging from climate action to multilateral cooperation. While many responded with disbelief, Senator Lindsey Graham offered an emphatic endorsement on Fox News, praising the president for “standing up in the UN and telling the world the way it is.”

Graham appeared particularly taken with Trump’s performance, repeating the baseless claim that Trump ended “seven ‘unendable’ wars.” The senator then posed a direct challenge to constitutional limits by saying, “Trump 2028…I hope this never ends.”

Constitutional Limits and “Trump 2028”

Under the 22nd Amendment, a president is barred from serving more than two terms, making any 2028 campaign for Trump legally impossible. Yet Graham’s call echoes a prior social media post he made in March, where he also declared “Trump 2028!” after praising the former president’s address to Congress.

In the wake of these comments, questions arose about potential plans to circumvent the amendment. Recently sworn in at the time, Rep. Andy Ogles introduced a resolution to change the Constitution so a president could run for a third term—potentially freeing Trump from current legal hurdles.

Graham’s Evolving Stance on Trump

Critics note that Graham was once a vocal Trump critic. Economist Dean Baker, from the Center for Economic and Policy Research, suggested, “Trump must have some big-time dirt” on Graham for him to pivot so drastically. Graham’s trajectory—from fierce opposition to full-fledged support—has left observers questioning his motivations.

“Graham used to have pretenses of being a serious person,” Baker remarked, underscoring the senator’s stark change of tone. Others, including journalist Mehdi Hasan, expressed alarm over Republicans “just openly calling for unconstitutional, lawless behavior.”

The “Joke” Defense and Its Fallout

When pressed on his third-term remark, Graham declared it was “a joke.” However, the repeated references to “Trump 2028” and the introduction of an amendment by Rep. Ogles suggest that such talk is more than just casual banter within some Republican circles.

Graham’s high praise of Trump—who also hinted at a third term—reveals the extent to which key members of Trump’s own party are willing to overlook constitutional boundaries in pursuit of a favored leader. While Graham may characterize this stance as humorous, the fundamental question of preserving democratic norms remains a serious matter for many Americans.