Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), appearing on CNN's “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper on Sunday, said he doesn't believe in all of the “joy” Democrats displayed at last week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
During the conversation, Tapper described this week's Democratic National Convention as “disciplined” and “well-crafted” and, in the reporter's words, “spoke of patriotism and unity.” Graham didn't think so.
“Well, that's not what you saw,” Graham told Tapper, laughing. “If you're a Republican, you saw a hate fest. You saw a hate fest full of insults.”
“Americans don't feel joy when they go to a gas station and put gas in their car,” he continued. “They don't feel joy when they make their mortgage payment. They don't feel joy when they go to the grocery store. People are suffering. And this celebration of joy and love doesn't exist in the real world.”
To make his case, Graham pointed to gas prices, the situation at the border and inflation, saying “the world wasn't on fire” during President Donald Trump's term in office.
“So 60 percent of Americans are not happy. They believe the country is heading in the wrong direction and they think President Trump offers the best solution to change the country's trajectory,” he added.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who appeared on the show before Graham, took a different view.
“I think we're all tired of the negative cynicism about America in general,” Booker said after Tapper mentioned the theme of the Democratic National Convention was “Joy.” “It's time for our country to awaken to its hope and its joy.”
Happiness aside, Graham also noted that Donald Trump said on Friday via Truth Social that “his administration would be great for women and their reproductive rights,” a comment that many found sarcastic.
“I know, you'll have to ask him about that,” Graham told Tapper in response to the comments and the backlash. “What I'm saying is, President Trump has been a very good pro-life president. My understanding is that his position now is that he leaves the issue of abortion up to the states. He believes there is no role for the federal government.”
