During a recent interview with Bloomberg in Chicago, former President Donald Trump referred to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) as “a progressive,” raising eyebrows with his characterization of the Republican senator. The conversation, which took place during an event on Tuesday, also touched on Trump’s vision for the U.S. economy and the dollar’s role as the world’s reserve currency if he were re-elected.
Trump confidently asserted that under his leadership, the dollar would retain its global dominance. “If a country tells me, ‘Sir, we like you very much, but we’re going to no longer adhere to being in the reserve currency, we’re not going to salute the dollar anymore,’ I’ll say that’s okay, and you’re gonna pay a 100% tariff on everything,” Trump stated, emphasizing his hardline stance on economic policies.
The former president suggested that his bold approach to trade and currency diplomacy sets him apart. “You don’t have other people that can talk that way,” Trump remarked. “A lot of people say we love Trump’s policy, but we would like to have another messenger because we don’t like him; he’s a little bit crass.”
In a surprising comment, Trump attributed some praise to Sen. Lindsey Graham, describing him as a “progressive” but acknowledging the senator’s support for Trump’s policies. “And then actually it was Lindsey Graham — I must say he was a progressive in all fairness — but Lindsey Graham said, but Trump’s policy doesn’t work without Trump, and there’s a lot of truth to that,” Trump added.
The interview highlighted Trump’s continued confidence in his economic strategy, while his reference to Graham as a progressive stood out, given the senator’s staunch conservative reputation. Trump’s assertion that his policies are inseparable from his personality and leadership style underscores the former president’s belief that his unique approach is essential for success.