Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., urged President Joe Biden to get involved in border policy negotiations, saying he has "no confidence" in the lead Democrat negotiator to get a deal done.
Graham made the remarks after the Senate's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday. Graham blasted Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., leading the talks for his side so far, calling him "unhelpful."
Border talks began once Senate Republicans blocked Biden's $106 billion supplemental aid package for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and funds targeted for border security. Senate Republicans are holding firm — no aid without a stringent border security policy. Graham, too, is hawkish on sending aid to allies but has said there can be no more foreign aid until a deal to secure the border is reached first.
"The key is to get the commander in chief involved in the negotiations. Sen. Murphy — I have no confidence he's ever going to get a deal we can live with, because he's worried about selling it to the left," Graham said, according to The Hill. "The commander in chief — if there's a deal to be made — is going to have to get involved in the negotiations. It's his job above all others."
Further, Graham cast Murphy as "very unhelpful" for his framing of the GOP's position.
"We're not holding the border hostage. We're trying to protect the American people," Graham said.
Graham's remarks echo those of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who also called on Biden to get involved. Biden said last week that he's willing to make "significant" compromise on border policy. So, McConnell said he told Biden to get in the game.
"Don't just punt the ball up to Senate Democrats — they may never get there," McConnell said Tuesday. "We all know he's the only one that can sign a bill into law. Without (Biden), there is no deal."
Republicans' lead Senate negotiator, James Lankford of Oklahoma, told reporters Monday that he doesn't see a deal getting done by the end of the week, when the House is scheduled to adjourn for the Christmas break. McConnell echoed that Tuesday.
For Graham's part, he is a staunch supporter of Ukraine and allies, telling Newsmax last week that "you may not agree that Ukraine is important, but I do." However, he reiterated Tuesday what he told Newsmax last week, that "we've got to fix our own backyard here."
"I told President Zelenskyy my No. 1 obligation is to secure my country as well as help yours, and I feel like my country's border policies are an immediate threat to the safety of the American people," Graham said Tuesday.
Mark Swanson ✉
Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor, has nearly three decades of experience covering news, culture and politics.
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