Graham booed at Trump rally in Pickens SC, home county. From Trump supporters, here's why.
The crowd booed US Senator Lindsey Graham and drowned out his remarks as he rallied for Donald Trump in downtown Pickens, South Carolina on Saturday, July 1.
Graham, who grew up in Central in Pickens County, said he was going to help Trump win the 2024 general election and even pointed out that he was part of the Senate Judiciary Committee that helped bolster the Supreme Court’s conservative sheen.
Despite that, the large crowd remained unmoved and the booing continued for just over six minutes of Graham's remarks.
Graham was voted to Washington, first, as a member of the House of Representatives (1995-2003) for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. He has been a US Senator since 2003. He's a Daniel High School graduate and earned both his bachelor's and law degree from the University of South Carolina.
Easley resident Michael Propes, 60, said Graham was trying to side with Trump to give his own political career a new lease of life.
“I voted for him years ago, I voted for him last year, but we need to vote him out," Propes said.
Trump in SC: Former president vows retaliation against Biden, Democrats over indictments
Early in Trump's speech, he half-heartedly defended Graham.
"We're going to love him. He's half and half. When we need those liberal votes, we need him. We know the good ones. We know the bad ones too," Trump said.
Later in his speech, he mentioned Graham, again, by name and the crowd began to boo again.
"I'm going to have to work on these people. He's there when you need him," Trump told the crowd. "'Do you mind if I come down and campaign a little for you, Lindsey?' He was one of my earliest endorsements from the go and I appreciate it, Lindsey."
Other Trump supporters joined and echoed Propes.
William Billew, 74, was tired of Graham “wishy-washiness."
“(Graham) doesn’t need to use Trump to get where he needs to go again,” Billew said.
He felt the South Carolina Senator sided with Democrats when it suited him and pedestalized Trump when it mattered. This made him an unreliable lawmaker, Billew said.
Mike Turnick of Pickens said Graham’s address was “the low point of the day.”
“He sounded like he wanted to to talk more about himself instead of Trump, I didn't care for his speech," said Turnick.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Lindsey Graham booed at Donald Trump rally in Pickens SC. Here's why.