Lindsey Graham footage revives debate on Middle East war push

Newly released behind‑the‑scenes video from filmmaker Alex Holder’s unfinished documentary shows the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Biden national‑security adviser Jake Sullivan and other senior officials during the opening days of the 2026 Iran conflict. The clips capture Graham urging President Donald Trump to expand military operations into Lebanon and offering strategies to help Netanyahu counter an International Criminal Court investigation.

The footage was aired on CNN’s The Source, where anchor Kaitlan Collins reacted with a stunned, one‑word response. The broadcast also highlighted Graham’s role in coordinating bipartisan U.S. Senate support for a letter seeking a probe into allegations against ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan, a move that preceded the court’s November 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu. Graham died on July 11, 2026, at age 71, prompting renewed scrutiny of his decades‑long hawkish stance on Middle East interventions.