Trump Declares War On South Carolina’s Graham

(CN) - The GOP establishment's awkward attempt to get its head around Donald Trump as its standard-bearer got a little more complicated Friday afternoon after a war of words erupted between the presumptive Republican presidential nominee and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Graham released a statement Friday saying he would not support Trump's presidential bid because he doesn't believe the billionaire real estate developer is a "reliable Republican conservative nor has he displayed the judgment and temperament to serve as commander in chief."

The senator, who also made a bid for the presidency this year, but suspended his campaign early on after it gained little traction, said he plans to skip the Republican convention in Cleveland in July.

However, Graham said he fully intended to work this fall to help to elect down-ballot Republicans and urge people to vote this year.

Trump, as is his custom, fired back with both barrels.

"I fully understand why Lindsey Graham cannot support me," Trump said in a statement released through his campaign. "If I got beaten as badly as I beat him, and all the other candidates he endorsed, I would not be able to give my support either."

"Every time I see Lindsey Graham spew hate during interviews I ask why the media never questions how I single handily destroyed his hapless run for President," Trump continued. "As a candidate who did not receive 1 percent in his own state - compared to my victory at nearly 40 percent with many others in the race - he has zero credibility."

But he still wasn't done, calling Graham, "a poor representative and an embarrassment to the great people of South Carolina."

"Judging by the incompetent way he ran his campaign, it is easy to see why his military strategies have failed so badly - we can't even beat ISIS" Trump said.

"While I will unify the party, Lindsey Graham has shown himself to be beyond rehabilitation. And like the voters who rejected him, so will I," he said.

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit