Graham to Trump: Consider removing 'US bases from countries who won't let us fly from them'
Source: The Hill
03/21/26 8:12 AM ET
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Friday urged President Trump to consider removing U.S. military bases from countries who wont let us fly from them, again lashing out at European allies over their refusal to assist the U.S.-Israeli military operation in Iran.
Graham reupped the suggestion after Trump told reporters earlier on Friday that the senator was right about asking that. Mr. President, one of the things I like about you most is that, now, our allies take America for granted at their own peril, the South Carolina Republican wrote in a post on social platform X.
As to my suggestion, I meant it then and Ill repeat it now: We should consider removing U.S. bases from countries who wont let us fly from them as we confront the worlds largest state sponsor of terrorism who has been hellbent on developing a nuclear weapon and was extremely close to achieving that goal, the senator added.
Trump and Graham have slammed NATO allies in recent days for their reluctance to support U.S. military operations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint that has been effectively closed to shipping traffic since the start of the conflict on Feb. 28.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5794447-graham-trump-iran-us-bases-middle-east/
sakabatou
(46,090 posts)Simeon Salus
(1,626 posts)The US is about to lose ALL of their overseas bases because nobody trusts our leadership.
Spazito
(55,401 posts)the stupid burns with this one. Those bases are there because of American interests and not for any other reason. Talk about cutting off one's nose to spite one's face.
JBTaurus83
(1,318 posts)Would welcome it. The only loser would be the USA when it cant fly all over the globe murdering people anymore.
bucolic_frolic
(54,987 posts)The cost of removing a base and building a new one? As if countries are extending the US new leases at this point? Graham's going round the bend too.
Grins
(9,437 posts)SunSeeker
(58,240 posts)Graham is a dumbass.
kimbutgar
(27,216 posts)Because this country was stupid enough to (elect)
him a second time we deserve the scorn.
And I know Putins state visit is going to happen in 3-2-1
.
JBTaurus83
(1,318 posts)To build large bases all over Latin America to complete our hegemony over the area. As others have pointed out, I think Dump would just as soon be done with Europe.
Srkdqltr
(9,712 posts)Lovie777
(22,861 posts)ChicagoTeamster
(898 posts)Where they can still be located close enough to respond to their theater of responsibility ? And, it takes years to shut a base down because the units still have missions to do and the people still live and work there and still need to eat, go to doctors etc while the shutting down and closing up f contracts is going on. Look up the shutting down of Camp Bastion in Helmand province Afghanistan. It took a year. That was just one base (a large critical one but it explains everything that was involved).
DavidDvorkin
(20,575 posts)turbinetree
(27,470 posts)planes out ..................come on jerk, I will teach you before you go...........grab two flashlights stand on the tarmac and wave them all off.............there I taught you...........
Prairie Gates
(8,082 posts)
Aussie105
(7,884 posts)as part of a defensive global system, to make the world of geopolitics more stable.
If they are being used instead as staging points for US attacks on other countries as some are now, yes, they should be closed down.
The US has turned from being a self-appointed global policeman to a bully boy looking for easy victims.
mahina
(20,626 posts)If you mean, remove access to the United States from the base which we will evacuate snd then leave fully operational to hand over to another contrary, likely to an enemy of the whole country,I just need to know who benefits from that exactly other than Vladimir Putin and the Russians? China surely.
Its not enough to demolish democracy in the United States or try your best. Be happy. Its on the ropes around the world too?
Treasonous shitbag. Trump told you to say that.
Renew Deal
(85,066 posts)Europe would be no worse off without those bases
FakeNoose
(41,420 posts)But thanks for the heads-up suggestion, Lindsey!

Beartracks
(14,555 posts)Asking for 300+ million friends.
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Lithos
(26,637 posts)Prove to me this is a wrong interpretation...
Buddyzbuddy
(2,535 posts)AverageOldGuy
(3,778 posts). . . is a retired Air Force lawyer colonel. Never served a minute on active duty. Did his reserve duty by spending two weeks a year in the USAF legal office in the Pentagon.
He's what's none as a REMF -- Rear Echelon Muthah Fukah -- though he never made it even to the rear echelons.