Graham also said he supports Trump\u2019s promises to go after Islamic State group fighters in Iraq and Syria, although the senator warned those pledges will need to be backed up with funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Graham praised two rumored picks for Trump\u2019s Defense Secretary — Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions and Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton — as worthy picks he could support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Graham expressed concerns with Trump\u2019s past comments on Russia, vowing that the Senate “will not give up on Crimea” and promising to push the administration to fight Russian aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
He also said he will not support some immigration policies that Trump has suggested, and predicted that foreign adversaries will likely test Trump in his early days as president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“And I will support him, because he is commander in chief at dangerous times,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graham and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., are seen as pivotal figures for a Trump administration, because of their party stature on defense issues and fractured relationship with the incoming president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Both men openly fought with Trump over the last year, and were ridiculed by the reality TV star turned politician on the campaign trail. Last summer, in separate incidents, Trump mocked McCain for being captured as a prisoner of war during Vietnam and encouraged supporters to harass Graham after giving out his cell phone number at a press conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graham reiterated that Trump was not his pick for president, but said he sees areas of building a professional working relationship. He also dismissed critics\u2019 claims that Trump officials will marginalize and ignore his opponents on Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The last time I looked, they\u2019ve still got to come to Congress,” he said. Follow @LeoShane<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n