He played sidekick to Donald Trump and John McCain, then something changed.

Key Points:

• Lindsey Graham, a long-serving U.S. senator, was known for his relentless work ethic and political adaptability, transitioning from a close ally of John McCain to a significant power broker during the Trump era.
• Graham's 2016 presidential bid was unsuccessful, but he leveraged his media presence and Senate influence to maintain relevance and expand his political power.
• During his early Senate career, Graham aligned closely with McCain, sharing interests in military intervention and immigration reform, but he avoided McCain's more dramatic party breaks, preferring to stay involved in legislative negotiations.
• After initially opposing Donald Trump in 2016, Graham quickly became one of Trump's staunchest supporters, gaining considerable influence over foreign policy decisions, including advocating for military interventions in Venezuela and Iran.
• Graham established himself as a key foreign policy figure, acting as a liaison between Trump and international leaders, and was instrumental in shaping some of the administration's most consequential decisions despite criticism and mockery from political peers.