#LindseyGrahamLovesJoeBiden trends after senator is seen slamming Trump and calling Biden 'nicest person' in ad
Shortly after a GOP group released a new advertisement featuring Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) previously slamming President Donald Trump and praising former Vice President Joe Biden (D), #LindseyGrahamLovesJoeBiden began trending on social media. The video, with the same name as the trend, was released on Friday, June 12, by the coalition Republican Voters Against Trump.
The ad begins with footage of Graham appearing on CNN in 2015 where he denounced Trump, calling him "a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot." Graham, in the clip, was asked about what Trump's 2016 presidential campaign was about. To which the Republican senator replied with: "He’s a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot. You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell.”
You can watch the video here.
The advertisement then shows Graham praising Biden in an interview with HuffPost in 2015, as the senator calls him the "nicest person" he ever met in politics. "If you can’t admire Joe Biden as a person, you’ve got a problem," he says. "You need to do some self-evaluation, ‘cause, what’s not to like? He's as good a man as God ever created.”
“He’s said some of the most incredibly heartfelt things that anybody could ever say to me. He’s the nicest person I think I’ve ever met in politics,” Graham says.
Graham is also shown saying that the GOP primary was a “defining moment for the future of the Republican Party” and warning that Republicans would lose the “moral authority” to govern if they did not reject Trump. The advertisement then concludes with an image of Trump holding the Bible during his controversial photo-op outside St John’s Church earlier this month. The president had reportedly ordered the military to clear the streets around the White House filled with protesters so that he could walk to the church. Tear gas was used to forcibly disperse the peaceful demonstrators.
Although the advertisement showed Graham criticizing Trump in 2016, ever since the Republican's presidency win, Graham has become one of his closest allies. Many social media users shared the advertisement on Twitter and called out Graham's hypocrisy.
One Twitter user wrote: "Do you think @LindseyGrahamSC ever looks in the mirror and says, "My God, I'm one of the biggest fucking hypocrites in the whole world"?
"Well said Lindsey. Of course this was before you lost your sanity," another said referring to his close friendship with Trump. A third wrote: "Oh this is precious. Another Trump fan boy who seemed to have a clear understanding of reality and sold his soul... @Lindseygraham you were right about @realdonaldTrump, so right! Shame you didn't stick to your guns. #WordsMatter. #Historyremembers."
Another remarked on the advertisement: "One of the best pro @JoeBidenads. Using @LindseyGrahamSC against Trump. Perfect." While another wrote: "Beautiful ad from a group called Republican Voters Against Trump. And it's all LINDSAY GRAHAM talking!"
The GOP advertisement is reportedly scheduled to run on Fox News in Charlotte, N.C., and Greenville, S.C. According to Republican Voters Against Trump, the ad will also air on Fox News in Washington, D.C.