Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) opened up for the first time since receiving his COVID-19 diagnosis.
During an interview with a reporter for The Associated Press, Meg Kinnard, Graham told her he is “much better” after some “pretty tough days.”
The senator also said former President Donald Trump calls “every day” to check on him and he has encouraged Trump to “speak up” and advocate for the vaccine.
NEW: In an interview today, the 1st he's given since his COVID diagnosis, @LindseyGrahamSC tells me he's "much better" after some "pretty tough days."
— Meg Kinnard (@MegKinnardAP) August 5, 2021
He said former President Trump calls "every day" to check on him & he's urged Trump to "speak up" and advocate for the vaccine. pic.twitter.com/0dRTZOR07X
Graham announced he tested positive for the virus earlier this week, as IJR reported.
“I was just informed by the House physician I have tested positive for [COVID19] even after being vaccinated. I started having flu-like symptoms Saturday night and went to the doctor this morning,” he said, adding, “I feel like I have a sinus infection and at present time I have mild symptoms. I will be quarantining for ten days. I am very glad I was vaccinated because without vaccination I am certain I would not feel as well as I do now. My symptoms would be far worse.”
The former president previously urged Americans, including his supporters, to get the vaccine during a Fox News interview in March.
“I would recommend it, and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,” Trump said.
He continued, “But, you know, again, we have our freedoms, and we have to live by that, and I agree with that also.” Trump also called it “a great vaccine, and it’s a safe vaccine.”
Trump received the vaccine before leaving the White House in January along with former First Lady Melania Trump. Former Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar criticized Trump for not getting vaccinated on TV, as IJR reported.
He wrote in an op-ed published by The New York Times, “I’m glad former President Trump got vaccinated, but it would have been even better for him to have done so on national television so that his supporters could see how much trust and confidence he has in what is arguably one of his greatest accomplishments.”