Retired Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt and retired Army Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, speaking Sunday on Newsmax, said Sen. Lindsey Graham's death could reshape U.S. policy toward Ukraine by removing the Senate's leading advocate for tougher action against Russia.
The military veterans told Newsmax's "Wake Up America Weekend" that Graham's absence leaves uncertainty over the future of legislation imposing additional sanctions on Russia and raises questions about who, if anyone, will become the Senate's most influential voice on national security.
Shaffer said Graham, who died Saturday night after what was described as a brief and sudden illness, had been the driving force behind legislation that would impose secondary sanctions on Russia, an effort that now faces an uncertain future.
"He was the clear lead on that," Shaffer said. "Without him pushing it, the chances of those secondary sanctions against the Russians passing are probably not going to happen now."
Shaffer said Graham had also been urging President Donald Trump to take a more aggressive approach to supporting Ukraine.
Asked whether Graham's death could change the Senate's approach to foreign policy, Shaffer said he believes it likely will.
"I think there's going to be a change of direction here," Shaffer said. "He was a force of nature. That nature is not shared by his fellow senators."
While Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., could emerge as a stronger voice on defense issues, Shaffer said no senator has matched Graham's persistence on foreign policy.
"I think this may well lessen the direct support by the United States for Ukraine," Shaffer said.
Holt agreed Graham wielded tremendous influence throughout his Senate career, even as the two often disagreed.
To be frank, Holt said, "the senator and I did not get along very well, but no, Lindsey was a force to be reckoned with. There's no question about that."
Holt said Graham remained committed to his national security views throughout his decades in public office.
"For three decades, Lindsey Graham has been very true to his principles," Holt said. "He saw things in Cold War terms ... he did not have any trouble advocating for the use of military force in defense of America's security."
Holt also said he hopes U.S. policymakers continue pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
"There is no military solution in front of us, no matter what," Holt said.
Both men said Graham's passing leaves a void in the Senate, though Shaffer suggested several lawmakers could collectively assume the advisory role Graham often played on military and foreign policy matters.
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