Nournews: In American politics, the most dangerous rival of a leader is not an external enemy, but someone inside the camp who assumes the posture of leadership. This is exactly where the Lindsey Graham issue begins: where he is no longer merely a “Trump-loyal senator,” but is trying to present himself as the guiding mind of the Republican Party and the unofficial guardian of Trumpism.
In recent years, Lindsey Graham has deliberately been redefining his position within the Republican Party. He is neither the official party leader nor a presidential candidate; yet precisely for that reason, he plays the role of a “cost-free leader.” Graham seeks to be the dominant voice at critical junctures—national security, Iran, war, sanctions, and hardline foreign policy—a voice others consult, media amplify, and the party base adopts as a benchmark. This is informal but effective leadership: a leadership derived not from the ballot box, but from narrative monopoly.
Within this framework, Graham’s relationship with Donald Trump is no longer a simple “leader–supporter” dynamic; it increasingly resembles a “hero–godfather” relationship. Graham knows Trump is obsessed with personal hero-making, and the Iran file is the perfect stage for that spectacle. The question, however, is who writes the script of that heroism? When Graham uses military threats, maximum pressure, and extreme rhetoric, he effectively sets the course and places Trump on a path already designed in advance.
This behavior also has meaning inside the Republican Party. Graham is trying to portray himself as someone who understands, controls, and, when necessary, restrains Trump. Among party elites—especially traditional Republican factions—he sends the message: “Trump without me is dangerous; with me, he is manageable.” This is precisely the position a godfather defines for himself—not against the leader, but above him.
The repeated publication of images of Graham alongside Trump—especially in private settings such as golf courses—is not merely a display of friendship; it carries a political message: “I have access to the private sphere of power.” For Trump, who views leadership as intensely personal, exclusive, and based on distance, this is a serious warning sign. Trump does not want anyone to think decisions are made elsewhere and he merely signs them.
On the other hand, by setting boundaries for the Iranian opposition and rejecting support for figures like Reza Pahlavi, Graham effectively plays the role of a final arbiter—deciding which option is legitimate and which is not. This level of intervention goes beyond a senator’s role; it is the behavior of someone who considers himself the owner of the dossier. But that dossier is precisely what Trump sees as his personal political property.
The core contradiction lies here: Trump wants to be the absolute leader of the Republican Party; Graham wants to be the rational leader behind the scenes. These two roles cannot coexist indefinitely. Ultimately, Trump must either accept that he has a godfather who sets the direction, or conclude that Lindsey Graham—more than a loyal ally—is building a parallel leadership within the Republican Party. And for Trump, nothing is more provocative than feeling someone else is acting like the leader.
NOURNEWS