Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has been one of the most vocal advocates for additional military action against Iran, has fled D.C. amid a critical point in the war with Iran, leaving lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fuming mad.
During a March 22 appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Graham called for the use of American ground troops to seize Iran’s oil depot Kharg Island, compared the potential seizure to the American capture of Iwo Jima in World War II, arguing it would leave Iran “defanged.”
Graham’s assertion raised eyebrows from both Republicans and Democrats, and drew additional ire from lawmakers after the hawkish Senator was photographed at Walt Disney World over the weekend.
Graham was spotted eating a meal at Chef Mickey’s, a buffet-style dining establishment at the Contemporary Resort near the Magic Kingdom, according to photos posted by TMZ.
Graham was also spotted holding a bubble wand while in the Magic Kingdom.
Lindsey Graham lives it up at Disney World during the partial government shutdown!
Take a look: https://t.co/MuKOLhjQX4 pic.twitter.com/RKX665BPCt
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 30, 2026
Graham has continually pressed President Trump to launch strikes against Iran, and even made multiple visits to Israel for intelligence briefings and also met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“I trust DOD. We got two Marine Expeditionary Units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima, we can do this. The Marines, my money is always on the Marines,” Graham told Fox host Shannon Bream during his most recent appearance.
“I don’t know if you take the island or you blockade the island, but I know this the day we control that island, this regime, this terrorist regime has been weakened. It will die on a vine.”
A Marine Expeditionary Unit consists of a Marine infantry battalion with attached forces, including artillery, armored vehicles, anti-tank missiles and aircraft like the MV-22B Osprey, the F-35B Lightning and the AH-1Z attack helicopter.
According to experts, the unit deploys on a U.S. Navy Amphibious Ready Group that includes a helicopter assault ship and other vessels.
“As soon as we get Iran defanged so they can never do another October 7th, I want to start up peace talks between Saudi and Israel this year,” Graham told Bream.
“I want a peace deal between Saudi and Israel normalizing [relations], ending the Arab-Israeli conflict that’s been going on for 2,000 years this year, and you can’t do it with a lethal Iran. So we’re weeks away from this Iranian regime not having the capability to stop peace.”