Lindsey Graham's Fate Shows Republicans That Appeasing Trump Won't Earn Them Influence
Source: Fred Kaplan. "Trump’s fuel deal with Putin is a cautionary tale for Republicans.." October 13, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
Lindsey Graham spent his last years flattering Trump in the hope of steering him toward backing Ukraine, but Trump has now made a deal with Putin that undoes what Graham worked for. The author argues that other Republicans should take this as proof that sucking up to Trump doesn't buy real influence, since he'll drop them whenever it helps him.
Conclusion
Republicans should recognize that deferring to Trump in hopes of earning favors or steering his policy is a delusion, because Trump will betray them whenever it suits him, so they should stop kowtowing to him.
Premises
- Lindsey Graham abandoned his earlier principles and ingratiated himself with Trump in order to steer him toward supporting Ukraine and punishing Russia.
- Trump signed the bipartisan sanctions bill against Russia, named after Graham, but then struck a diesel deal with Putin that violates both that bill and the earlier ban on importing Russian energy.
- Trump publicly thanked Putin, blamed Zelensky for high oil prices (when the real cause is Trump's own Iran war), and told Ukrainians to 'get a new president', all of which contradict what Graham worked to achieve.
- Trump made the deal out of political self-interest, to lower fuel prices and win back farmers and truckers before the midterms, with no regard for the legacy or loyalty of his allies.
- Bret Stephens's claim that Graham's toadying had a 'steadying influence' on Trump is shown to be wrong by Trump's reversal.
- Trump's behavior shows he will discard allies on a whim, so influence gained through sycophancy is unreliable and does not last.
Assumptions
- Graham's experience is representative of what happens to any Republican who tries to influence Trump through deference.
- Trump's reversal on Russia reflects his general character and not a one-off, situational exception.
- The diesel deal is a lasting policy reversal, not a temporary or tactical move.
- Graham's Ukraine goals were the right measure of whether his strategy worked.
- Alternatives to deference, such as open opposition, would be more effective or at least more honorable.
- Republicans' main reason for deferring to Trump is the hope of influencing him, not electoral fear or genuine agreement.