Republican Senator Lindsey Graham on Friday doubled down on his threatening rhetoric against Russian President Vladimir Putin, reiterating to Fox News that Russians must “rise up and take [Putin] down."
The high-ranking conservative Republican politician proclaimed that Putin, who he dubbed a war criminal, and his Russian military leadership should be jailed for "stealing" Russia from its citizens and carrying out war crimes on its behalf.
The 66-year-old GOP senator also took aim at Russia's ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, who called the senator’s messaging "criminal," as well as "outrageous and unacceptable."
“That is not the position of the United States government and certainly not a statement you'd hear come from the mouth of anybody working in this administration,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday, responding to questions regarding Graham's viral tweets.
On Thursday, Graham called on Russians to “step up to the plate” and channel their inner Brutus, referring to one of the many Roman politicians who killed Caesar.
The Republican lawmaker also floated that someone within the ranks of the Russian armed forces could be a “more successful Colonel Stauffenberg,” referring to the German military officer executed by the Nazis following a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler via a briefcase bomb.
The US senator’s calls for political assassination continued in a follow-up post, claiming Russian nationals must “fix” the situation, or face eternal darkness and “abject poverty” while being “isolated from the rest of the world.”
Despite pleas from netizens, Twitter has yet to remove Graham's remarks.
It did not take long before the Russian Embassy in the US demanded a “strong condemnation of the criminal statements of this American,” whose Russophobic assertions come contrary to Washington’s claims that the US is a “guiding star” for morality and mankind.
Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov contextualized Graham’s remarks as part of the “hysterical Russophobic fit” that has been adopted by some Americans.
“These days, not everyone can keep a sound mind,” said Peskov. “Unfortunately, many people go mad.”
Both Republican and Democratic members of the US Congress were quick to speak out against the incendiary implications and international ramifications of Graham’s remarks.
“Seriously, wtf?” tweeted Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). “I really wish our members of Congress would cool it and regulate their remarks as the administration works to avoid WWlll.”
“Use massive economic sanctions; BOYCOTT Russian oil & gas; and provide military aid so the Ukrainians can defend themselves,” tweeted Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) “But we should not be calling for the assassination of heads of state.”
Even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), herself recently censured for dangerous rhetoric, referred to her congressional colleague’s statements as “irresponsible, dangerous & unhinged.”
“Americans don’t want war,” Greene asserted in a denouncement of “warmongering politicians trying to tweet tough by demanding assassinations.”
Netizens and congressional colleagues repeatedly highlighted that Graham, who has spent nearly two decades in a Senate seat he is now struggling to keep, should recognize the weight of such a violent threat.
The Russian president has maintained that Russian forces will not occupy Ukraine, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has observed that a "full-scale invasion" appears to have been ordered by Moscow.
Amid a buildup of Western and European sanctions leveled in retaliation against Moscow, the Kremlin revealed in a Friday announcement that its media watchdog has ordered limits on Facebook and Twitter.
Additionally, online lodging marketplace Booking.com is no longer offering patrons the opportunity to book accommodations within Russia.