Lindsey Graham Says Trump Will Have 'Some Damage to Repair' If He Runs in 2024
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has said former President Donald Trump may have "some damage to repair" if he plans to run for the White House successfully in 2024.
Graham, who has been a strong defender of Trump, told Fox News's Sean Hannity on Monday that Trump is likely to win the Republican nomination for president in two years' time.
Graham and Hannity discussed an upcoming series of talks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library where some senior Republicans will meet to discuss the future of the party. The event is entitled "Time for Choosing."
"Here's the question I have," Graham said. "If President Trump decides to run in 2024 and he wins the party's nomination, will you support him?
"It's a time for choosing in that regard. Would you support President Trump if he's our nominee? Every Republican needs to be asked that question."
Hannity criticized what he called "the old weak establishment Republican Party" and the failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) during Trump's time in office.
Graham addressed how to define being a Republican and said: "I would look at what President Trump did and choose that as my way forward.
"The question for the Republican Party right now is if Donald Trump ran at the primary, he would win going away and the question is why?" Graham went on.
"Why are so many Republicans willing to give him another shot at this? Because they believe in what he did and they believed his policies worked.
"And if you don't see that, if you don't get that, then you really don't understand the Republican Party in 2021."
The senator argued that the GOP would have to embrace Trump's policy agenda to win. However, Graham acknowledged that there might be some hurdles for Trump to overcome.
"It should be an America First agenda and if President Trump runs, he's going to have some damage to repair, but I think he's in great shape to win the primary and could get reelected. And my question is if he's the nominee would you support him? I would like to hear a lot of people answer that question," Graham said.
Graham didn't offer any details on what Trump might need to repair.
Former President Trump has strongly hinted at a third run at the White House but has yet to formally announce his intentions. In an interview on May 20, Trump said he might not make a decision until after the 2022 midterm elections.
"Everybody wants me to do it, the polls are all saying I have to do it. I will be making a decision maybe before but possibly more likely right after the 2022 election," Trump said.
Newsweek has asked Senator Lindsey Graham for comment.
