Graham urges Trump to move on Iran: Don’t 'talk like Reagan and act like Obama'

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urged President Donald Trump not to “talk like Reagan and act like Obama” on Iran.

The South Carolina Republican told “Fox News Sunday” that Trump has an opportunity to be like President Reagan during the end of the Cold War, standing strong against the unpopular regime in the Islamic Middle East nation that has brutally cracked down on protests.

“I think it’s a defining moment in his presidency,” Graham told Fox News anchor Shannon Bream.

(Video Credit: Fox News)

“Ronald Reagan went to the Berlin Wall, and he said, ‘Tear down this wall.’ He didn’t say, ‘Could you make it lower?’ When asked about what the protesters should do, President Trump said, ‘Keep protesting. Help is on the way,'” Graham said, referring to Trump’s remarks as Iranians took to the streets for weeks to demand an end to the Muslim clerics’ reign in Iran.

“If this regime is still standing the day after, if we pull the plug, will be 100 years of chaos. I have every confidence that President Trump will do what he promised to the people. Help is on the way. Keep protesting. If this regime falls, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, they all go. It’d be the biggest change since the fall of the Berlin Wall,” Graham continued.

“But here’s one thing I know. Donald Trump is Ronald Reagan, plus in my mind, Venezuela soon Cuba. The one thing you can’t do as president is talk like Reagan and act like Obama. There’s no deal to be done here. These people are not trustworthy,” he said of Iranian officials.

“The protesters in the street are not protesting for a better nuclear deal. They’re protesting for a better life. And if they win the day, we have a chance to have friends with the people of Iran. The Ayatollah will never be our friend. He’s a religious Nazi. President Trump, you said help is on the way. That has to be real. It has to be real soon. Do it, Mr. President. The people of Iran are begging you to be on their side,” the senator urged.

🚨 BREAKING: President Trump has an armada of ships heading to Iran and says he gave them an ULTIMATUM

“2 things: no NUCLEAR, and STOP killing protestors. By the thousands.”

“We have very big, powerful ships sailing to Iran RIGHT NOW. It would be great if we didn’t have to use… pic.twitter.com/aqPQzKnKbB

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 30, 2026

Calling Trump a “Reagan plus,” Graham noted this is a “defining moment” in his presidency.

“Stand by the people. The Ayatollah falls — the region changes bigger than the fall of the Berlin Wall. No more international terrorists. This regime has American blood on its hands since 1979,” he continued, referring to the Islamic Revolution that toppled the monarchy and ushered in decades of authoritarian government and oppression.

“Bring this regime down because the people want it down. You don’t have to invade the country. But help on the way means military strikes against the infrastructure that is killing the Iranian people. Go after the ones who are killing the people. Put this regime on notice. We’re never going to let up. Strangle their economy. It will fall. The people will take over,” Graham said.

“And over time, we will have a friend in Iran. Not an enemy. Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, all fall. The biggest thing you could possibly ever do to the Mideast is take this regime down. And they’re as weak as they’ve ever been since 1979,” he added. “Mr. President, you can do it. I hope you will do it. And if you do — if you do it, this is Reagan-esque.”

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Frieda Powers

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Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.

Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.

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