What started out as a congenial, interview with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) went off the rails after "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker pressed the GOP lawmaker about Donald Trump's embrace of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at Mar-a-Lago this week.
When Welker tried to fact-check Graham on Orbán's authoritarian history, the senator raised his voice and talked over her.
After sharing a clip of Trump praising the Hungarian strongman, Welker asked, "Do you think Viktor Orbán's leadership is something Trump aspires to in a second term?"
"I think the best way to judge President Trump's second term is by what he did in his first term," Graham shot back.
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With Graham later asserting, "Russia didn't invade on President Trump's watch. Hamas didn't try to destroy Israel on his watch. The Taliban weren't in charge on his watch. So, here's what I would say, if you're worried about the world being on fire you're right. If you think [President Biden] is weak in the eyes of our enemies you're right. So, if you want to get the world back in order, you better vote for Trump."
"But you know that former President Trump has talked about being a dictator on day one. He said it's nice to have a strong man running our country. He's talked about retribution in a second term, senator," Welker replied.
Turning back to Orbán. Welker stated, "Senator, just to be very clear, though. He is aligning himself with Viktor Orbán. He is--."
"Who is a member of NATO who just voted to let Sweden in," Graham interrupted to which the NBC host replied, "Reluctantly, though. But he has--."
"Orbán is not on the ballot!" the GOP lawmaker exclaimed.
As Welker attempted to reply, Graham continued to talk over her repeating, "Orbán is not on the ballot. You've got to vote between Trump and Biden! Biden has screwed the world up every way you can: broken borders, the world's on fire. If he really is back, if he's with it, if he's energetic, get in a room with Donald Trump and debate. Take questions from people like yourself, rather than reading a teleprompter. If there's ever an election in the history of America that deserves debate between the two candidates, it's this election. Trump just told me, the campaign just told me, 'Anytime, anywhere. Let's debate.'"
Watch below from NBC or at the link.
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