{"id":2636648,"date":"2026-07-28T12:06:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-can-replace-graham-as-trump-whisperer-for-zelensky-and-netanyahu\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T12:11:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:11:04","slug":"who-can-replace-graham-as-trump-whisperer-for-zelensky-and-netanyahu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/who-can-replace-graham-as-trump-whisperer-for-zelensky-and-netanyahu\/","title":{"rendered":"Who can replace Graham as &#8216;Trump whisperer&#8217; for Zelensky and Netanyahu?"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwho-can-replace-graham-as-trump-whisperer-for-zelensky-and-netanyahu%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2636648&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Washington Secrets reports on a meaningful day marked by the funeral of Senator lindsey Graham, with a ceremony at the Capitol and a service at Washington National Cathedral attended by world leaders including President Trump, President zelensky of Ukraine, and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel.Zelensky and Netanyahu\u2019s attendance indicates ongoing international considerations beyond mere mourning. The article explores potential replacements for Graham\u2019s influential foreign policy role, highlighting Senate colleagues like katie Britt and Roger Wicker, and unconventional options such as influencer Laura Loomer and senator Tom Cotton. Despite suggestions, many concur that no one will fully replicate Graham\u2019s personal rapport and informal diplomacy style, especially his golf-course diplomacy as a &#8220;Trump whisperer.&#8221; The piece also touches on Biden\u2019s possible attendance at Graham\u2019s funeral, recalling their past close relationship before political differences emerged. Additionally, Stephen Miller emphasized republican criticisms of Democrats, and Trump\u2019s recent aggressive stance on RFK Jr.\u2019s vaccination stance is noted. The article concludes with commentary on lawmakers leveraging AI policy work for political gains and offers contact details for further reader engagement.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Welcome to Tuesday\u2019s edition of <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>. It\u2019s a day dominated by the late <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"737\">Lindsey Graham<\/a>, with a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda in the morning, followed by a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral. Three world leaders will attend: President Donald Trump, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/volodymyr-zelensky\/\">Volodomyr Zelensky<\/a>, the Ukrainian president, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a>, prime minister of Israel, attend Lindsey Graham\u2019s funeral this afternoon, they will have more on their minds than paying respects to the late senator.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4665523\/lindsey-graham-replacement-role-trump-whisperer-zelensky-netanyahu\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Who is in line to take Lindsey Graham\u2019s role as \u2018Trump whisperer\u2019 for Zelensky and Netanyahu?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4664113\/white-house-journalists-dont-know-what-to-do-donald-trump\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House journalists still don\u2019t know what to do with Donald Trump<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4662073\/white-house-report-card-trump-sliding-into-iran-quagmire\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House report card: Trump is sliding into an Iranian quagmire<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They need a new advocate. Ideally, it will be a senator with decades of experience traveling to the world\u2019s most dangerous neighborhoods, a Rolodex crammed with past, present, and future world leaders\u2019 numbers, and a golf handicap of about 12.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And they will probably need to be on the road almost every other weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Zelensky paid tribute to Graham, for example, he explained the senator had been to Ukraine 10 times during the four-and-a-half years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations,\u201d he said. \u201cWe met twice in just the past week.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graham\u2019s relationship with Netanyahu was longer and deeper. And as <em>Secrets <\/em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4461367\/lindsey-graham-trump-generational-opportunity-iran\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4461367\/lindsey-graham-trump-generational-opportunity-iran\/\">revealed at the time<\/a>, Graham used a round of golf with Trump in February to persuade him of the political benefits of launching strikes on Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So who could fill this role? Secrets canvassed sources on the Hill and elsewhere to come up with this shortlist:<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)<\/strong>: At 44, she represents the next generation and could be the best fit, even though she lacks Graham\u2019s long experience. A <em>Secrets <\/em>source said she had been mentored by Graham, who often made sure she had a seat in his meetings with high-level officials and leaders. Plus, she already has a role as something of a bridge between Congress and the White House when it comes to legislation. Notably, she has now taken on a role pushing a Russia sanctions bill that was championed by Graham.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)<\/strong>: Another name in the frame, Wicker combines both Senate standing with explicit support for Ukraine and Israel. As Armed Services Committee chairman, he has significant influence over military aid and defense policy, making him a key player for both countries. And his hawkish instincts on Iran in particular put him in close ideological alignment with Trump. But like others, he simply lacks the deep relationships with Zelensky and Netanyahu.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Laura Loomer<\/strong>: The wild card in the audition. The right-wing influencer and citizen journalist certainly has the ear of Trump, and has wielded considerable power by persuading him to fire staffers whose loyalty she doubted. Loomer is currently in Ukraine, where she has undergone a U-turn on supporting Zelensky\u2019s government, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4614200\/laura-loomer-ukraine-russia-propaganda\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4614200\/laura-loomer-ukraine-russia-propaganda\/\">as first documented by<\/a> <em>Secrets<\/em>. \u201cMaybe that person has to be me,\u201d she told Playbook when asked who might be the best new envoy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR)<\/strong>: Again, this is a figure who comes with the authority of the Senate, but he probably lacks the independence of someone like Graham. In the plus column is the fact that, as Senate Intelligence Committee chair, he advanced Section 622 legislation in May to expand and enhance intelligence sharing with Israel. But on the Hill, he is seen as someone who will fall into line behind the president rather than nudge him in new directions.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other positions held by Graham will be filled. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4646870\/what-to-know-darline-graham-nordone-senator\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4646870\/what-to-know-darline-graham-nordone-senator\/\">His sister has Trump\u2019s endorsement to run for his Senate seat<\/a>. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) is expected to take over the Budget Committee that Graham had chaired.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the general consensus is that no one will be able to replicate his role as golf course foreign policy \u201cTrump whisperer.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">None of these people is flying to warzones with the cadence of a secretary of state, as one insider put it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With Zelensky and Netanyahu both meeting Trump ahead of this afternoon\u2019s funeral service, both leaders will have to take on more of their own messaging. At least for now.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-biden-watch\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biden watch<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If there\u2019s one thing former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"471\">Joe Biden<\/a> loves more than waxing lyrical about the Senate, it\u2019s a good funeral. So will he turn up at the Washington National Cathedral to remember his old pal Graham?<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back in the day, they were as thick as thieves. They overlapped in the Senate by more than a decade. They both served on the Foreign Relations Committee and traveled overseas together, developing the sort of across-the-aisle relationship that is now rare.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Biden\u2019s son Beau died, Graham described a long, emotional phone call as he tried to comfort his friend, whom he called \u201cas good a man as God ever created.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But then came Trump, and things soured as Graham (despite his initial misgivings) became one of the new president\u2019s most loyal allies. He was a key mover in pushing investigations into Hunter Biden\u2019s Ukraine ties, and the two old colleagues traded barbs. Jill Biden famously said that Graham was no longer a friend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the senator\u2019s death was announced earlier this month, Biden offered a measured tribute, saying he chose to remember \u201cthe Lindsey Graham before Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So the only question left is whether Biden will be well enough to attend. And whether Jill lets him.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-quote-of-the-day\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quote of the day<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump aide Stephen Miller laid out the Republican platform for the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11675\"> midterm elections <\/a>during an interview with Sean Hannity on Monday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDemocrats have become a party of freaks, weirdos, losers, and crazies \u2014 but you can\u2019t laugh it off because it\u2019s deadly serious. When you give these people power, everything you know and love in this world falls apart. You have chaos, corruption, decay, violence, poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-rfk-jr-cut-vaccine-children-78582411?st=CWRGSs&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/trump-rfk-jr-cut-vaccine-children-78582411?st=CWRGSs&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\"><strong>Trump turns up the heat on RFK Jr. to cut back childhood vaccines<\/strong><\/a>: White House advisers urged Kennedy to tone down his cuts on vaccines. Trump ordered him to do the opposite, accusing him of having \u201cthe yips.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/technology\/lawmakers-ai-wave-stardom\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.notus.org\/technology\/lawmakers-ai-wave-stardom\"><strong>Lawmakers are riding the AI wave to stardom<\/strong><\/a>: Working on AI policy is \u201ca fast track to higher name recognition, credibility within their party and the groundwork for a platform to run on.\u201d Oh, and there are pots of cash in it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#6d1e080e1f08191e2d1a0c1e0504030a19020308150c000403081f430e0200\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"bac9dfd9c8dfcec9facddbc9d2d3d4ddced5d4dfc2dbd7d3d4dfc894d9d5d7\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestions. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tuesday\u2019s Washington Secrets: Graham honored; Zelensky, Netanyahu attend funeral<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2636649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/lindseygraham-replacement-e1785248511466.jpg?1785236167&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[32402,4671,5894,6991],"class_list":["post-2636648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-international-relations","tag-israel","tag-politics","tag-ukraine"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/lindseygraham-replacement-e1785248511466.jpg?1785236167&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2636648"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2636653,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636648\/revisions\/2636653"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2636649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2636648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2636648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2636648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}