MAGA Senator stuns with 'totally crazy' answer about Trump's goals in Iran
Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, at the House Chamber before U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. (Pool photo by Kenny Holston/The New York Times.) Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Pool via REUTERS

A MAGA Senator left two analysts stunned on Sunday after he gave a "totally crazy" answer about President Donald Trump's goals in Iran.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) joined NBC News' Kristen Welker on Sunday to discuss the Trump administration's decision to join Israel in striking multiple sites around Iran on early Saturday morning. During the conversation, Graham seemed to suggest that the administration had no goals in mind.

But there was one comment Graham made that caught Sam Stein, managing editor of The Bulwark, and Will Saletan, a writer for the outlet, off guard.

Welker asked Graham if the U.S. had picked out a new leader for the country, as it did in Venezuela after U.S. forces captured dictator Nicolás Maduro. Graham said he had "talked to the Crown Prince" about his "ideas for transition," referring to Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, who reportedly helped push Trump to strike Iran in the first place.

They reacted to Graham's comments on Sunday night.

"That was a weird one," Stein said. "Are we giving the Saudis a veto here? What's going on?"

"That was totally crazy!" Saletan said, adding that it seemed to contradict Graham's previous point about the people of Iran picking their next leader.

Saletan also pointed out that Graham seemed to suggest that Iranians would accept the Saudis telling them who should run their country, which he said is "insane."

"He can't be that stupid, can he?" Saletan said.