New Footage Renews Scrutiny of Lindsey Graham’s Long Campaign for Middle East Wars
Newly released behind-the-scenes footage from filmmaker Alex Holder’s forthcoming documentary Lindsey’s Game has reignited debate over the late Sen. Lindsey Graham’s decades-long advocacy for military intervention in the Middle East.
The footage, obtained by multiple news outlets, captures Graham speaking candidly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Biden National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, and other senior officials during the opening days of the 2026 Iran war. One exchange shows Graham offering to encourage President Donald Trump to expand military operations into Lebanon, while Netanyahu advises against opening another front at that moment. The documentary also contains lighter moments, including musician Elton John singing Graham “Happy Birthday” over the phone on his 70th birthday.
The recordings have attracted attention not only because of their unprecedented access to high-level conversations but because they reinforce Graham’s reputation as one of Washington’s most consistently hawkish foreign policy figures.
One of the most widely circulated clips shows Graham watching television coverage of the opening phase of the Iran conflict.
According to footage released by Alex Holder, Graham remarked:
“Look what we’ve done here. I almost cried.”
He also described President Trump as enthusiastic about the military campaign, saying Trump “loves blowing stuff up,” while expressing pride in having advocated for military action against Iran for years.
Another recording captures Graham telling Jake Sullivan that he expected pressure on Iran to rapidly destabilize the government and create what he described as “almost irreversible momentum.”
Perhaps the most striking exchange involves Graham’s conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to released footage, Graham proposed trying to persuade President Trump to support military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu urged caution, arguing Israel should remain focused on Iran rather than opening another major front.
NEW: Remarkable, behind-the-scenes video from the documentary filmmaker @alexjholder shows the late Sen. Lindsey Graham speaking with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden adviser Jake Sullivan and others at the start of the war with Iran. #InsidePolitics pic.twitter.com/p2fiFRPwZV
— Inside Politics (@InsidePolitics) July 26, 2026
Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr
