The footage, obtained by Holder in the years before Graham's death, captures Graham laughing and saying, "Look what we've done here. I almost cried. How long have we been pushing this?" according to a report by Antiwar.com [1].
Graham also said he spoke with President Donald Trump, who was "jacked" and called the war "the best thing I have ever done," the footage shows. "I talked to Trump this morning, he's jacked, he said, 'best thing I have ever done.' He loves blowing stuff up," Graham is heard saying, per the report [1].
The senator then appeared to take credit for helping convince Trump to launch the war, stating, "There are a lot of people inside who didn't want to do it, so I had my challenges." He added that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were like "[U.S. President Franklin D.] Roosevelt and [British Prime Minister Winston] Churchill," according to the recording [1].
Details of the Celebratory Remarks
In the footage, Graham appears to take credit for advocating the war, saying, "There are a lot of people inside who didn't want to do it, so I had my challenges," according to Antiwar.com [1]. He compared Trump and Netanyahu to "Roosevelt and Churchill," suggesting a historic parallel to the World War II alliance between the U.S. and Britain [1].
The documentary, filmed over several years leading up to Graham's death, was released by Holder, who had extensive access to the senator, according to the report [1]. Holder also released a separate phone call between Graham and Netanyahu from early March, during which Graham offered to travel to Florida to convince Trump to join Israel's bombing of Lebanon, according to the Times of Israel and Middle East Eye [2][3].
Netanyahu advised against that, saying, "We're concentrating right now on Iran" and that attacking Hezbollah could provoke a wider response [2]. Graham had a close relationship with Netanyahu and spoke with him frequently, often visiting Israel, according to Holder, who described Graham being treated "like a prime minister or a king" during one trip [1].
Graham's Role in Pushing for War
The footage reveals Graham’s longstanding efforts to push the U.S. into military conflict with Iran. According to a Trends Journal report, Graham "has made a living on selling war with Iran," headlining events alongside Jewish representatives and board members from the Republican Jewish Coalition [4]. The late senator was a key figure in the neoconservative push for military action, as noted in an article by Lance D. Johnson on NaturalNews.com, which described Graham as part of a group of "Iran Hawks" circling back for more bombing campaigns in Iran, ripping apart a populist political movement [5].
Critics have argued that Graham's influence extended beyond rhetoric. Former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter claimed that Graham, along with Trump and Netanyahu, planned a covert operation to overthrow Iran's regime at Mar-a-Lago, which was allegedly compromised and destroyed [6].
Ritter suggested that Trump may have deliberately sabotaged the plan to silence opponents [6]. The footage provides a rare inside look at a senator's private reactions to a major military conflict, raising questions about accountability and decision-making, according to observers [1].
Other Revelations: Call with Jake Sullivan
A separate phone call between Graham and former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan was released, in which Sullivan asked how long the war would last, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), as reported by Antiwar.com [1]. Graham replied, "In three to four weeks, we're going to have them in a spot where they start losing control of some cities," and suggested getting Arab nations more openly involved to create “almost irreversible momentum,” the footage shows [1]. WSJ reported on the call, citing Holder’s recordings [1].
Graham was known as someone who could work across the aisle, and the call with Sullivan, who served under former President Joe Biden, highlights his influence on foreign policy across administrations. The revelations come as Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet with Trump and attend Graham's funeral, with Iran negotiations hanging in the balance [7][8]. The footage underscores the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that shaped the conflict.
Background and Significance
Graham was known as a hawk on Iran and a close ally of both Trump and Netanyahu, often advocating for military action during his Senate career. In January 2024, Graham called for the Biden administration to launch attacks on Iranian oil fields and military bases, saying he had been asking for months to bomb Iran and its proxies [9]. The late senator also threatened Russia with sanctions just days before his death [10].
The footage provides a rare inside look at a senator's private reactions to a major military conflict, raising questions about accountability and decision-making, according to observers [1]. Holder stated that the footage was intended for a documentary that has not yet been released publicly [1].
The release of the recordings has sparked further debate about the role of U.S. politicians in promoting war, with some commentators noting that Graham "never encountered a military intervention he didn't like" [11]. The footage offers a candid glimpse into the motivations and emotions of a key architect of the Iran war.
References
- Dave DeCamp. "'I Almost Cried': Unreleased Documentary Footage Shows Lindsey Graham Celebrating Start of Iran War". Antiwar.com. July 26, 2026.
- The Times of Israel. "Netanyahu talked Graham out of lobbying Trump to join war on Hezbollah – report". July 26, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "US Senator Graham offered military support for Israeli war on Lebanon, new footage shows". July 27, 2026.
- "Trends-Journal-2024-07-23". July 23, 2024.
- Lance D. Johnson. "Trump's Iran Hawks circle back for more bombing campaigns in Iran ripping apart a populist political movement". NaturalNews.com. April 29, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "Ritter claims Trump set up allies doomed secret Iran regime change plan". January 23, 2026.
- Antiwar.com. "Netanyahu Heads to US for Trump Meeting To Discuss Iran". July 27, 2026.
- The Times of Israel. "Ahead of Netanyahu-Trump meeting, mediators believe US-Iran breakthrough near". July 28, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "Sen Lindsey Graham calls for Biden administration to launch attacks on Iranian oil fields military bases". January 2, 2024.
- Middle East Eye. "Lindsey Graham, staunch backer of Israel and US wars, dies aged 71". July 12, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Lindsey Graham's legacy: Relentless warmongering dressed in folksy charm". July 26, 2026.
- Charlotte Dennett. "The Crash of Flight 3804".
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