In early March 2026, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that Senator Lindsey Graham explicitly "coached" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how to lobby President Donald Trump to launch military strikes against Iran.

 

In early March 2026, a Wall Street Journal report revealed that Senator Lindsey Graham explicitly "coached" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how to lobby President Donald Trump to launch military strikes against Iran.

 

Key Details of the "Coaching"

Tactical Advice: Graham traveled to Israel multiple times to meet with Netanyahu and Israeli intelligence officials, reportedly telling them, "They’ll tell me things our own government won’t tell me".

Intelligence Presentation: Graham advised Netanyahu on exactly what kind of intelligence to show Trump to persuade him to authorize the attacks.

Outcome: Netanyahu subsequently presented intelligence that successfully convinced Trump to move forward with Operation Epic Fury, a sweeping joint military operation targeting Iranian military infrastructure.

 

Context and Reaction

Graham's Defense: Graham has been open about his role, bragging about shaping world history and "jumping in the deep end of the pool" to push for the war. He framed the strikes as a "new dawn" for the Middle East and described Trump’s actions as the "gold standard".

 

Political Pushback:

Internal Friction: A senior White House aide reportedly referred to Graham as an "annoying crazy uncle" due to his constant pressure at Mar-a-Lago.

Public Criticism: Critics, including Meghan McCain, have called for the administration to stop using Graham as a surrogate, arguing his rhetoric is "scaring people" and damaging the administration's message.

International Fallout: Graham has also publicly slammed allies like Spain for refusing to allow the U.S. to use its bases for the Iran strikes.