Russian strongman Vladimir Putin is in line for a “whoopin’” from President Trump if Moscow doesn’t come to the negotiating table to end its war on Ukraine, Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted Sunday.
“Trump has been tough on Iran, who is incredibly dangerous, but they’re in a weakened state, and Putin, your turn is coming,” Graham (R-SC) told Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Night In America With Trey Gowdy.”
“Donald Trump is the Scottie Scheffler of American politics and foreign diplomacy, and he’s about to put a whoopin on your ass,” added Graham, referring to the four-time major champion who added The Open’s Claret Jug to his trophy case hours earlier.
On July 14, Trump gave Russia 50 days to negotiate a peace deal or face 100% secondary tariffs that would target countries importing goods such as oil and uranium, a dramatic shift in his stance toward Europe’s largest conflict since World War II.
Trump also unveiled vague plans to ship billions of dollars worth of firepower — including Patriot batteries — to Ukraine, for which America’s European allies will pay.
Graham, who authored a bipartisan sanctions bill against Russia that is currently languishing before the Senate, admitted that “Putin can live through sanctions,” but his war machine will take a beating if its top funders — including China, India and Brazil — pull back.
“Trump is going to impose tariffs on people that buy Russian oil. China, India and Brazil, those three countries buy about 80% of cheap Russian oil,” Graham said. “That’s what keeps Putin’s war machine going.”
“The game has changed when it comes to you, President Putin, you have played President Trump at your own peril, you made a major league mistake, and your economy is going to continue to be crushed,” he added.
Russia has continued to pummel Ukraine even after Trump’s announcement, targeting Kyiv on Sunday evening with an onslaught of drones and missiles.
Graham also briefly turned his attention to Israel and blasted the US ally over its strike on the only Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip.
That attack against the Holy Family Church, which killed at least three people, drew a rare statement of regret from the Israeli government and reportedly prompted concern from Trump.
“I’m incredibly upset by that. I’m an unapologetic supporter of the state of Israel,” Graham said. “I want to find out who did it, and I want them to be punished, and if it was settlers from the West Bank, Israelis, I want them to be punished.”
