Recently released documentary footage, captured by British filmmaker Alex Holder prior to the death of Senator Lindsey Graham on July 11, provides a behind-the-scenes look at Graham's efforts to influence U.S. military engagement in the Middle East. According to excerpts from Holder's upcoming documentary, 'Lindsey's Game,' Graham exhibited pronounced joy when President Trump initiated U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Footage from his Senate office shows Graham reacting to news of the strikes, reportedly exclaiming, "Look what we’ve done here. I almost cried... How long have we been pushing this?" Graham also claimed President Trump was equally enthusiastic, reportedly stating, "best thing I have ever done" and that "He loves blowing stuff up."
The documentary also captures a March 4 phone call between Graham and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During this conversation, Graham reportedly expressed his intention to lobby Trump for U.S. involvement alongside Israel in a conflict with Lebanon's Hezbollah militia. However, Netanyahu, according to the footage, advised a more measured approach, stating, "We’re concentrating right now on Iran." Netanyahu reportedly suggested that engaging Hezbollah extensively at that moment was not in Israel's immediate interest, adding, "We can do it later."
In early March, Graham had reportedly predicted that within "three or four weeks," the U.S. and Israel would achieve "almost irreversible momentum" in Iran, leading to the regime losing control of cities. However, these forecasts did not materialize. Five months later, reports indicate that no cities have fallen, and support for the Iranian government has instead been galvanized following what the source article describes as a war of aggression. The article also notes that the initial U.S.-Israeli assault in February allegedly killed over 150 civilians, including young schoolgirls, and later, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, his daughter, son-in-law, and 14-month-old granddaughter, a collaboration the source article attributes to the U.S. and Israel.
The conflict quickly became what the Wall Street Journal and documentary footage suggest was "the most unpopular major war in US history," even surpassing the lowest polling for the Vietnam War. Graham reportedly voiced disappointment over the lack of public advocacy for the war from Republican politicians, remarking, "Very few people are out selling this war from the administration. I’m shocked." Later footage, recorded in June, shows Graham expressing frustration that President Trump had signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at fostering lasting peace, lamenting, "He’s letting this thing slip away. I got to go talk to him."