Graham to Trump: Consider removing 'US bases from countries who won't let us fly from them'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Hill

03/21/26 8:12 AM ET


Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Friday urged President Trump to consider removing U.S. military bases from countries “who won’t let us fly from them,” again lashing out at European allies over their refusal to assist the U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran.

Graham reupped the suggestion after Trump told reporters earlier on Friday that the senator was “right about asking that.” “Mr. President, one of the things I like about you most is that, now, our allies take America for granted at their own peril,” the South Carolina Republican wrote in a post on social platform X.

“As to my suggestion, I meant it then and I’ll repeat it now: We should consider removing U.S. bases from countries who won’t let us fly from them as we confront the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism who has been hellbent on developing a nuclear weapon and was extremely close to achieving that goal,” the senator added.

Trump and Graham have slammed NATO allies in recent days for their reluctance to support U.S. military operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that has been effectively closed to shipping traffic since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5794447-graham-trump-iran-us-bases-middle-east/

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[sakabatou]

1. It just keeps getting worse.

[Simeon Salus]

2. Not much of a threat

The US is about to lose ALL of their overseas bases because nobody trusts our leadership.

[Spazito]

3. What an asshole but, then again, we all knew that...

the stupid burns with this one. Those bases are there because of American interests and not for any other reason. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.

[JBTaurus83]

4. I'm sure many people in those countries

Would welcome it. The only loser would be the USA when it can’t fly all over the globe murdering people anymore.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Gonna cost a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$ to fill Trump's whim

The cost of removing a base and building a new one? As if countries are extending the US new leases at this point? Graham's going round the bend too.

[Grins]

22. Build a new one? Good luck. NM

[SunSeeker]

6. That's like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Graham is a dumbass.

[kimbutgar]

7. I agree move those bases out of those countries and continue to make us a pariah nation

Because this country was stupid enough to “(elect)” him a second time we deserve the scorn.

And I know Putin’s state visit is going to happen in 3-2-1….

[JBTaurus83]

8. They would probably prefer

To build large bases all over Latin America to complete our hegemony over the area. As others have pointed out, I think Dump would just as soon be done with Europe.

[OC375]

28. Bingo

SA is where we’re headed, in search of gold, basically. It’s the “If they’re all coming here anyway, we’re gonna need to grab what they left behind to fund it.” rationale. Plenty to exploit from beef and minerals to oil and cheap labor. NATO is last millennium. He wants a North American Treaty Organization - NATO.

With Europe the tough nut for Trump will be getting Greenland access. Rare earth, baby. Of course, if you kneecap the ME and own the Americas, you have stuff to barter for it.

Asia is China’s as long as they stay out of SA. Australia is nervous which is why they’re helping us right now. Japan doesn’t want to be left to China either.

[JBTaurus83]

30. I agree with this

It’s a sad state of affairs, but, I think that is where we are headed. I’m 42 and as a high school student I had dreams of some type of global federation of nations coming about. A United Nations with some teeth. I don’t think that vision post-WWII has ever been as far from reality as it is today.

[Srkdqltr]

9. That is such a magical thinking statement. Just teleport them out.

[Lovie777]

10. Please let the nightmare end.....

[ChicagoTeamster]

11. Oh sure, like it's that easy. Where do you relocate all of the troops, contractors and equipment to ?

Where they can still be located close enough to respond to their theater of responsibility ? And, it takes years to shut a base down because the units still have missions to do and the people still live and work there and still need to eat, go to doctors etc while the shutting down and closing up f contracts is going on. Look up the shutting down of Camp Bastion in Helmand province Afghanistan. It took a year. That was just one base (a large critical one but it explains everything that was involved).

[Shipwack]

29. That's the "genius" of their plan.

They don’t care about the European theater any more.

They want to concentrate on South and Central America, as someone else said upthread.

[DavidDvorkin]

12. "Consider hastening the end of the American empire even more than you already have."

[turbinetree]

13. I tell you what Graham why don't you revisit your JAG uniform..........and go over there and guide all the

planes out ..................come on jerk, I will teach you before you go...........grab two flashlights stand on the tarmac and wave them all off.............there I taught you...........

[Prairie Gates]

14. LOL..don't do us any favors

[Aussie105]

15. The bases around the world were initially sold to countries

as part of a defensive global system, to make the world of geopolitics more stable.

If they are being used instead as staging points for US attacks on other countries as some are now, yes, they should be closed down.

The US has turned from being a self-appointed global policeman to a bully boy looking for easy victims.

[mahina]

16. Please define the term "remove" Lindsey.

If you mean, remove access to the United States from the base which we will evacuate snd then leave fully operational to hand over to another contrary, likely to an enemy of the whole country,I just need to know who benefits from that exactly other than Vladimir Putin and the Russians? China surely.

It’s not enough to demolish democracy in the United States or try your best. Be happy. It’s on the ropes around the world too?

Treasonous shitbag. Trump told you to say that.

[Renew Deal]

17. Shadow President Graham doesn't realize the bases help the US use power throughout the world

Europe would be no worse off without those bases

[FakeNoose]

18. Nah ... I think it's just easier and quicker to impeach the shit out of Chump

But thanks for the heads-up suggestion, Lindsey!

[Beartracks]

19. Seriously, are these people working *for* Russia and China?

Asking for 300+ million friends.

===================

[Lithos]

20. Wow, Graham sucks

Prove to me this is a wrong interpretation...

[Buddyzbuddy]

21. This guy changes direction so much, he doesn't know which team he's playing for.

[AverageOldGuy]

23. Lindsey Graham . . .

. . . is a retired Air Force lawyer colonel. Never served a minute on active duty. Did his reserve duty by spending two weeks a year in the USAF legal office in the Pentagon.

He's what's none as a REMF -- Rear Echelon Muthah Fukah -- though he never made it even to the rear echelons.

[dedl67]

24. Why do the media listen to this annoying toy yap yap dog?

[Vinca]

25. The bases are there for our security as well as theirs. DUH. Lindsey needs to go.

[Norrrm]

26. Military genius! Such a simple solution. Let other 'friends' move in.

[Norrrm]

27. Trump gave up a base so his pal Vlad could have it.

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/russian-flags-american-base/

Russian Flags Over an American Base .... 2019
Trump’s reckless Syria policy makes America less safe and empowers Putin’s Russia.

[Wonder Why]

31. Can we vote to prohibit use of bases in this country?