Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who became a close ally of former President Donald Trump despite being highly critical of him in the past, has spent much of the election cycle going hard after President Joe Biden.
But on Monday, Graham struck up a considerably different tone.
“While we have political differences, I appreciate his lifelong service to our nation, which he dearly loves,” said Graham, in a statement reported by Politico. “He has devoted his entire life to public service for the people of Delaware and the United States, and I wish him and his family well as this chapter in his life comes to an end.”
Graham, notably, is not among the group of Republicans who has demanded Biden resign from office after ending his campaign.
Biden and Graham used to have a closer relationship in their political careers, despite the latter's commitment to re-electing Trump. At one point, both served together in the Senate, where they worked closely with each other on foreign policy issues. In a 2015 interview, Graham even called Biden "as good a man as God ever created."
But his praise didn't sit well with many commenters on social media — some of whom took it as proof that Graham has different personal beliefs under the surface than the hardcore partisan facade he presents to voters.
"Lindsay Graham is perplexed to see a politician with a spine doing the right thing. For him this is like spotting an alien," wrote the account @jacktbernhard.
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"Graham often says the right things, unless Trump want otherwise," wrote the account @jaxroam. "Then he says whatever Trump wants him to say."
"Before Lindsey sold his soul for relevancy and turned on his good friend, John McCain, he was a little too honest for MAGA-world," wrote the account @mammasaysstuff. "What a duplicitous slime-ball!"
@BuckyNoseBest wrote, "Every once in a while Graham’s soul comes up for air," while @LibertyCzarina wrote simply, "Of course he does."
