Lindsey Graham has responded to Donald Trump’s early morning tweetstorm, in which the president accused the South Carolina senator of “lying” about the remarks he made on Charlottesville at a Tuesday afternoon press conference. “Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists and people like Ms. Heyer,” Trump wrote. “Such a disgusting lie. He just can’t forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!”
Likewise, Graham turned to Twitter to issue his statement back to Trump, which — suffice to say — was just slightly more eloquent than the initial tweets he was responding to.
Mr. President, like most I seek to move our nation, my state, and our party forward – toward the light – not back to the darkness. (1) https://t.co/K1j4JnhCgf
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 17, 2017
Your tweet honoring Miss Heyer was very nice and appropriate.
Well done. (2) https://t.co/8I6LVMDXUy
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 17, 2017
However, because of the manner in which you have handled the Charlottesville tragedy you are now receiving praise from some…..(3)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 17, 2017
….you are now receiving praise from some of the most racist and hate-filled individuals and groups in our country. (4)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 17, 2017
For the sake of our Nation — as our President — please fix this. (5)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 17, 2017
History is watching us all. (6)
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 17, 2017
Previously, Sen. Graham gave a statement to CNN that read:
Mr. President, I encourage you to try to bring us together as a nation after this horrific event in Charlottesville. Your words are dividing Americans, not healing them. Through his statements yesterday, President Trump took a step backward by again suggesting there is moral equivalency between the white supremacist neo-Nazis and KKK members who attended the Charlottesville rally and people like Ms. Heyer. I, along with many others, do not endorse this moral equivalency.
Not surprisingly, Trump has yet to comment on Graham’s rebuttal, as by late morning Thursday he had already moved onto his next order of business — lamenting the removal of our country’s beautiful Confederate statues. As such, Graham’s remarks likely would have fallen on deaf ears. The world is indeed watching.