Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) launched a blistering attack on China and its international partners Wednesday, branding them all as 'dirtbags' just as President Donald Trump sat down with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for a high-stakes summit.
In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Graham, a leading foreign policy hawk, did not mince words. 'You name the allies of China, they're all dirtbags,' he said. 'They're aligned with the worst people in the world.' The senator specifically highlighted Beijing's deep ties with the governments of Iran and Russia.
Graham's comments come amid growing concern on Capitol Hill over China's role in fueling conflicts abroad. According to a March report from the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Chinese purchases account for roughly 90 percent of Iran's exported oil. Similarly, data from the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air shows that since December 2022, China has been the top buyer of Russian crude oil and coal, and the second-largest importer of Russian liquefied natural gas, trailing only the European Union.
Armed with those statistics, Graham argued that Xi has the leverage to end both the Russia-Ukraine war and the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. 'He could pick up the phone and make it happen,' Graham asserted. To compel Xi to act, the South Carolina Republican announced he is introducing legislation that would grant Trump the authority to slap tariffs on Chinese imports of Russian oil. He said he plans to follow up with a similar measure targeting Chinese purchases of Iranian oil.
'The only thing China respects is strength,' said Graham, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee. 'So, when this summit is over, if they're still doing the same damn thing with Iran and Russia and we don't punish China, we've made a mistake.'
The senator's tough rhetoric stands in sharp contrast to Trump's public posture during the bilateral meeting on Thursday. The president praised Xi, declaring the U.S.-China relationship 'is going to be better than ever before.' However, Xi issued a pointed warning regarding Taiwan, telling Trump that any miscalculation on the island could lead to dire consequences. As Graham noted, Xi's stance on Taiwan remains a major flashpoint.
Graham's legislative push is likely to resonate with fellow Republicans who have grown frustrated with China's continued economic support for regimes hostile to U.S. interests. The bill would give Trump a powerful new tool to pressure Beijing, though its fate in a closely divided Senate remains uncertain.
Critics, meanwhile, warn that such tariffs could escalate trade tensions and harm American consumers. But Graham is undeterred. 'We've been too soft for too long,' he said. 'It's time to show China that there's a price for propping up our enemies.'
