Graham Says That He Was Briefed On Soleimani Strike During Golf Trip With Trump

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) (R) during an East Room event to host the Clemson Tigers football team at the White House January 14, 2019 in Washington, ... WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) (R) during an East Room event to host the Clemson Tigers football team at the White House January 14, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump hosted the Clemson Tigers to honor their winning of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rails against President Donald Trump for approving a fatal attack on Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani without consulting Congress, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that he got a special early briefing while golfing with Trump in Florida.

“I was briefed about the potential operation when I was down in Florida,” Graham said Friday morning on “Fox and Friends.” “I appreciate being brought into the orbit. I really appreciate President Trump letting the world know you cannot kill an American without [sic] impunity.”

Graham was spotted golfing with Trump earlier this week at the President’s West Palm Beach golf club.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), a member of the Gang of Eight, was not briefed on the attack before it happened, according to HuffPost. Pelosi is demanding a full congressional briefing before the administration makes any more moves.

This isn’t the first time Trump opted not to prepare congressional leaders before a highly sensitive strike. In October, he told the Russians — but not congressional leadership — about plans of the raid that culminated in the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He made a crack at the time insinuating that he didn’t want congressional leadership to leak details of the plan.

Latest News
73
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Well, then, Congress was duly informed and Pelosi’s concerns are completely unfounded.

    Fore!

  2. So only GOP trusties get briefings on foreign affairs now?!

  3. What American is Graham referring to that was killed with impunity?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

67 more replies

Participants

Avatar for paulw Avatar for xpurg8d Avatar for silvrfox Avatar for butlerknights Avatar for sysprog Avatar for nellieh Avatar for danny Avatar for esva Avatar for kitty Avatar for schmed Avatar for benthere Avatar for pshah Avatar for henk Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for marknc Avatar for rickjones Avatar for tpr Avatar for kelaine Avatar for shade Avatar for maximus Avatar for llola25 Avatar for bloomingpeonie Avatar for mtw Avatar for emiliano4

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: