Former NFL football player O.J. Simpson mocked Senator Lindsey Graham for asking Donald Trump supporters to send the former president money to fight his legal battles in a clip that has now gone viral.
A grand jury indicted Trump last Thursday following an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The D.A.'s office probed a payment of $130,000 by Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet ahead of the 2016 presidential election about an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing, alleging the investigation was politically motivated, and has denied having an affair with Daniels. He has called on his supporters to peacefully protest the decision.
Some conservatives who have expressed anger at the Trump indictment have also called for protests. Last week, clips of Lindsey Graham went viral as he appeared to get emotional as he called on Trump supporters to donate to him.
One clip that showed Graham speaking about the charges against Trump on Sean Hannity's Fox News show on Thursday received over 1.8 million views.
The senator called the Trump indictment "legal voodoo." He said: "So what is behind all this? Hatred. They are trying to destroy Donald Trump because they fear him at the ballot box.
"To the conservatives out there, make sure you vote, if you have got friends, make sure they vote. If you don't have any friends, go make some friends, but you need to help this man, Donald J. Trump. They are trying to drain him dry."
Lindsey Graham appears to be on the verge of crying pic.twitter.com/Ihxt5CYUX4
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 31, 2023
Graham added: "He has spent more money on lawyers than most people spend on campaigns, they are trying to bleed him dry. Donald J. Trump.com, go tonight, give the president some money to fight this b*******."
Reflecting on the senator's Fox News appearance in his own video, Simpson said it "doesn't seem right" for Americans to give their hard-earned money to a billionaire. A snippet of this clip has gone viral after being posted by commentator Ron Filipkowski and has been viewed more than 150,000 times.
OJ mocks Lindsey Graham for crying on Hannity and begging people to send Trump money. pic.twitter.com/Z7oxYaOw1Q
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) April 3, 2023
Simpson said: "The strangest thing I have seen this past week is Lindsey Graham crying on TV begging people to send money to a billionaire. Now, sending him money for his presidential campaign and his presidential run, I am all for that, that is cool.
"But trying to send a billionaire money to help with a private issue? Like with what is going on in New York?
"Hey, Donald is going to fly up there with his big a** private plane, he is going to go to a condo that he says is worth over 100 million dollars and it is not even his private residence.
"My question is, what is all of these extra precautions costing the taxpayers of the state of New York?"
"Jeez, you have got Lindsey Graham crying asking Americans to send their hard-earned money to help a billionaire with a private personal issue. Somehow, it just doesn't seem right."
Simpson closed by joking that supporters should send him the money instead. He wished Trump the best in dealing with his legal issues as they once were "friendly acquaintances" and he "did always like him."
Newsweek has contacted Lindsey Graham via his official website for comment.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Gerrard Kaonga is a Newsweek U.S. News Reporter and is based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on U.S. ... Read more
