President Trump called on Congress Sunday to add Iran to a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill as a tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who authored the legislation and championed tough measures against both adversaries throughout his career.

Graham, a close Trump ally and longtime South Carolina senator, died unexpectedly on July 12 at age 71 after returning from the NATO summit in Turkey and a visit to Ukraine. He had spent his final days advocating for the Russia sanctions bill that now carries his legacy.

Graham's Final Legislative Push

The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026 was introduced in the Senate on Thursday, just days after Graham's death. The bipartisan legislation would impose sanctions on buyers of Russian oil and gas, targeting the revenue streams that fund Moscow's war machine.

Graham had been one of the Senate's fiercest Russia hawks for decades, building extensive experience in trans-Atlantic security issues. His sudden passing, just a day after returning from overseas where he had been pressing allies on Ukraine support, shocked colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

Senator Mike Lee noted that Graham's focus on the legislation in his final days makes it emotionally compelling for colleagues to push for its passage. He urged skeptics to reconsider in light of the fact that this was on Lindsey Graham's mind just moments before he died.

Trump Expands the Scope

By calling for Iran to be added to the Russia sanctions framework, Trump is seeking to expand Graham's legislative legacy to encompass another adversary the late senator spent years confronting.

Graham applauded Trump's decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites last year and was considered one of the most persuasive voices encouraging Trump to take military action against Iran earlier this year, despite reported reservations from Vice President JD Vance and others in the administration.

The late senator's advocacy on Iran dated back years, and combining both adversaries in a single sanctions package would create a fitting memorial to his hawkish foreign policy views.

The Trump Whisperer

Graham's relationship with Trump evolved dramatically over the years. Once a fierce adversary who criticized Trump harshly during the 2016 Republican primary, Graham transformed into a close ally, personal friend, and frequent golf partner once Trump's nomination became inevitable.

Democratic Senator Adam Schiff described Graham as the Trump whisperer, someone colleagues would approach when they wanted to understand the president's thinking or potentially move him on an issue.

Graham became a frequent visitor to the White House and served as an informal advisor to Trump on foreign affairs, particularly regarding Iran, Israel, and Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy both paid tribute to Graham after his death, underscoring his international influence.

Whether Congress will follow Trump's suggestion to expand the sanctions bill remains uncertain. Some senators have expressed concern about the scope of sanctions and their potential impact on the dollar's supremacy in global finance. But the desire to honor a fallen colleague may prove a powerful motivator in the weeks ahead.