On Sunday the Russian news outlet RT — formerly Russia Today — amplified a photo of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) meeting with Israeli intelligence chief and current director of the Mossad, David “Dadi” Barnea, and wrote: “Lindsey Graham holds secret talks with MOSSAD boss in Israel. Is he speaking for all of America?”
[NOTE: RT is a 24-hour international news network broadcasting in multiple languages including English. It’s headquartered in Moscow and funded by the Russian government. RT has been banned from numerous social networks and faced sanctions around the world, including from the U.S. State Department, which in 2024 labeled the network a “de facto arm of Russia’s intelligence apparatus.”]
Graham replied to RT: “To my Russian friends, chill out. I’ve known David for a very long time. He’s looking to buy property in South Carolina and I wanted to give him my two cents’ worth. In case you haven’t noticed, President Trump is in charge.”
To my Russian friends, chill out. I’ve known David for a very long time. He’s looking to buy property in South Carolina and I wanted to give him my two cents’ worth.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 18, 2026
In case you haven’t noticed, President Trump is in charge. https://t.co/Qqu7olFQV4
While some Israel supporters on social media are replying with appreciation — “Senator Graham, your unwavering support for Israel’s security is a beacon in these tense times. Keep countering the disinformation – America stands strong with allies like us” — others are criticizing the Senator with comments including “Lindsey is back in Israel to explain why despite all the money they gave him to convince Trump to bomb Iran it has not happened.”
Last week, amid reports of thousands of protestors being killed in Iran, Graham encouraged President Trump to kill the leaders of the regime.
“If I were you, Mr. President,” Graham said, “I would kill the leadership that are killing the people.” (Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet commented on the protests in Iran, but if Tehran’s government falls, Russia would lose a key strategic, military and economic partner in the Middle East.)
Note: In 2023, when Russia issued an arrest warrant for Graham, after an edited video appeared to show him celebrating the deaths of Russian troops fighting against Ukraine, Graham said he would wear the warrant as a “badge of honor.” Graham added, “To know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy.”
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