Newly obtained footage shows Sen. Lindsey Graham cheering as then-President Trump ordered strikes on Iran and quoting Trump as saying he "loves blowing stuff up." Filmmaker Alex Holder shot the footage while following Graham from 2023 until the senator’s sudden death at 71. Graham’s prediction that the war’s momentum would shift within weeks proved overly optimistic. The conflict has since killed at least 18 U.S. service members, wounded more than 600, raised fuel costs and cost the Pentagon an estimated $37 billion.
New Footage Shows Lindsey Graham Praising Trump’s 'He Loves Blowing Stuff Up' Remark During Iran Strikes
Late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), once a Trump critic, became one of the president's closest allies in the Senate. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Newly released documentary footage obtained by The Wall Street Journal shows the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) cheering as then-President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran in February.
The footage, shot by filmmaker Alex Holder, follows Graham — who had been filmed by Holder since 2023 — until the senator’s sudden death earlier this month at age 71. In a conversation captured on camera, Graham says he spoke with Trump that morning and described the president as “jacked,” quoting Trump as saying, "Best thing I've ever done. He loves blowing stuff up."
Watching television coverage of the strikes, Graham is seen laughing and saying, "Look what we've done here. I almost cried," later asking, "How long have we been pushing this?"
Optimistic Forecasts That Failed To Materialize
In the same February recording, Graham predicted a rapid shift in the conflict’s momentum: "In three to four weeks, we're going to have them in a spot where they start losing control of some cities. Get the Arabs more openly involved tomorrow, and then have almost irreversible momentum." That timeline proved overly optimistic.
Human, Economic And Political Consequences
The conflict, now roughly five months old, has destabilized the region and taken a clear human toll: at least 18 U.S. service members have been killed and more than 600 wounded. It has pushed oil prices higher and contributed to about a $1 increase in the average U.S. price per gallon of gasoline compared with a year ago, according to AAA.
On the fiscal side, the Pentagon estimates the war has cost U.S. taxpayers at least $37 billion so far; outside analysts say the true cost is likely higher once long-term expenditures are included.
Politically, the widening conflict appears to have eroded President Trump’s approval ratings, which were already low, and could influence Republican prospects in the November midterm elections.
Graham’s Political Arc
Once an outspoken critic of Trump, Graham became one of the president’s closest allies in the Senate. The newly released footage adds to public records of Graham’s advocacy for a more aggressive U.S. posture in the region during the early days of the conflict.
Note: The footage was reported by The Wall Street Journal and filmed by Alex Holder. Details are based on the journalistic reporting available at the time of publication.
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