Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) confused Twitter users yesterday when he tweeted about a border wall to defend against "radical Islam."
While President Donald Trump—with whom Graham often allies himself—works to rally support for a border wall and also leans heavily on tropes to stoke fears of Islamist terror, the two are unrelated.
Graham decided to follow Trump's lead but conflated the two.
When it comes to radical Islam, a border wall is our last line of defense — not our first. Our first line of defe… https://t.co/YHaeOnpFsV— Lindsey Graham (@Lindsey Graham) 1545934640.0
Trump claims the border wall is necessary to keep immigrants from South and Central America and Mexico from increasing the crime rate in the United States (these fears are unfounded). Meanwhile, one of the biggest catalysts of Islamist terror—ISIS—has greatly diminished. Trump has even said it's destroyed (it's not).
So what is Graham talking about? Twitter found his tweet extremely deserving of mockery.
@LindseyGrahamSC That wall would’ve worked wonders on 9/11. #NoWall— Doug Munn (@Doug Munn) 1545952198.0
@LindseyGrahamSC I believe Latin America leans catholic— Dusty (@Dusty) 1545946616.0
@LindseyGrahamSC Somebody in the senate hand Lindsey a map, please.— ✊️Auntimeme✊️ (@✊️Auntimeme✊️) 1545944836.0
@LindseyGrahamSC You ok, bud?— Cheryl Byrne (@Cheryl Byrne) 1545946611.0
@LindseyGrahamSC When you drop your notecards just before a speech and don’t have time to sort them...— Kevin Decker (@Kevin Decker) 1545968400.0
@LindseyGrahamSC WTH are you talking about?— Tweety Freedom (@Tweety Freedom) 1545996541.0
@LindseyGrahamSC Where do you propose deploying to thwart this threat from “radical Islam” that the Wall is suppose… https://t.co/T3Xmx0bmit— Chris (@Chris) 1545947003.0
While it's unclear why Graham associated the wall at the Southern border with Islamist terror, it didn't stop users from voicing their opinions on a crucial foreign policy decision recently made by Trump, which Graham decried.
When Trump made the decision to begin withdrawing American troops from Syria, Graham was vocal in his belief that it was a bad move.
Others voiced similar opinions in response to his tweet.
@LindseyGrahamSC Someone better tell your pal, trump that removing the troops eliminates this first line of defense— Rowanchats (@Rowanchats) 1545952447.0
@LindseyGrahamSC Trump isn't just abandoning the Kurds. He's also abandoning Israel.— IrishMason 🗽🇺🇸 (@IrishMason 🗽🇺🇸) 1545963915.0
@LindseyGrahamSC You mean like the ones we just sold out Lindsey? We aren’t going to have anyone that will work wi… https://t.co/7Yq88YzLoJ— John Garlick Sr (@John Garlick Sr) 1545963853.0
Others criticized the idea of a wall at the Southern border.
@LindseyGrahamSC @posas13 I'll support a border wall with Mexico the day after we complete the border wall with Can… https://t.co/T1ua3jvSFW— mark hentz (@mark hentz) 1545945753.0
@LindseyGrahamSC I think it’s funny that a country based on “occupying“ land of other people… My ancestors included… https://t.co/iXa9uhXl4C— Laurel (@Laurel) 1545963397.0
@LindseyGrahamSC Build a wall around 1600 Pennsylvania Ave! There’s a madman in there!— Eringobiteme (@Eringobiteme) 1546002800.0
@LindseyGrahamSC @Gunnarthorpe The Wall isn't any defense. Not first, not last.— David Murray (@David Murray) 1546005312.0
Senator Graham appeared to be criticizing Trump's insistence on a border wall as first priority, but shortly after this tweet, he was back in line with the President.
To Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats: No Wall Money, No Deal.— Lindsey Graham (@Lindsey Graham) 1546013158.0
Surprise, surprise.