 his last re-election campaign, in 2014, Graham asserted his base bona fides by railing against President Barack Obama’s White House “scumbags” and warning that “the world is literally about to blow up.” He has always been conservative, he emphasized. “But in our business, you’re not defined by the 80 percent agreement. You’re defined by the 20 percent” that the base might object to. (His relatively liberal position on immigration once led Rush Limbaugh to dub him “Lindsey Grahamnesty.”) [...]
“Relevance,” Graham said, returning to the word as if it were a mantra. “That was John McCain’s word.”
When I asked Graham whether he ever worried about being seen as a toady to Trump, his voice assumed a slightly clipped edge. “No, here’s what I worry about,” he told me. “That we’re going to get it wrong in Syria and Afghanistan. I worry more about the policy stuff. And I have more influence than I’ve ever had.” [...]
Graham says he has achieved graduating levels of relevance with Trump. “I went from, ‘O.K., he’s president’ to ‘How can I get to be in his orbit?’?”— “orbit” is another favorite Graham word — “to ‘How can I have a say in what’s going to happen today, tomorrow and next week?’?” he told me.
I asked Graham if he considered himself part of the wider Trump orbit or the more select one. “Well, I’m getting into the smaller orbit now,” he said. I asked him who else was in that precinct of the Trump solar system. He mentioned Melania, Ivanka, Jared. “He’s got a bunch of old friends that still have a say, New York types,” Graham said. “But the circle 
  is small.” [...]
At the end of our second interview, in mid-February, I asked Graham if he trusted Trump. Graham’s eyes seemed to bulge for a split second. He sat back in his chair and paused. “That’s a good question,” he told me.
He paused some more. “Do I trust him?” he said at last. “I trust the president to want to be successful,” he said. The president’s mercurialness, he acknowledged, could be a problem. “He will change his mind in a New York minute,” Graham said
his last re - election campaign, in 2014, Graham asserted his basis bona fides by rail against President Barack Obama ’s White House “ scumbags ” and warning that “ the populace is literally about to botch up. ” He has always been conservative, he underscore. “ But in our occupation, you ’re not defined by the 80 percent agreement. You ’re defined by the 20 percent ” that the nucleotide might object to. (His relatively liberal position on immigration once moderate Rush Limbaugh to knight him “ Lindsey Grahamnesty. ”) [... ] 
 “ Relevance, ” Graham said, returning to the parole as if it were a mantra. “ That was John McCain ’s word. ” 
 When I asked Graham whether he always worried about being seen as a toady to Trump, his spokesperson assumed a slightly clip edge. “ No, here ’s what I concern about, ” he told me. “ That we ’re become to get it wrong in Syria and Afghanistan. I worry more about the policy material. And I have more influence than I ’ve ever had. ” [... ] 
 Graham says he has achieved graduating level of relevance with Trump. “ I went from, ‘ O.K., he ’s president ’ to ‘ How can I get to be in his orbit? ’? ” — “ orbit ” is another favorite Graham word — “ to ‘ How can I have a say in what ’s going to happen today, tomorrow and following week? ’? ” he told me. 
 I ask Graham if he considered himself part of the wider Trump orbit or the more choice one. “ Well, I ’m getting into the smaller orbit now, ” he say. I asked him who else was in that precinct of the Trump solar system. He mentioned Melania, Ivanka, Jared. “ He ’s got a bunch of old acquaintance that still have a say, New York types, ” Graham said. “ But the circle 
   is small. ” [... ] 
 At the goal of our second interview, in mid - February, I asked Graham if he trusted Trump. Graham ’s eyes seemed to bulge for a schism second. He sat back in his chair and hesitate. “ That ’s a good question, ” he told me. 
 He paused some more. “ Do I hope him? ” he said at last. “ I believe the president to want to be successful, ” he say. The president ’s mercurialness, he acknowledge, could be a problem. “ He will deepen his mind in a New York minute, ” Graham said
 hid last re-election campainn, in 2014, Graham asserted iis bass bona fkdes by railing against Presmdenr Barqck Obama’s White House “scumbags” and warbing rhat “the world is literampy ayont to blow up.” Hg has always been conservadixe, he emphasized. “But in our business, rou’re npt defined by thg 80 pegcqnt zgreement. You’re defined by the 20 pedcent” tiat the base mibht object to. (His relativepy llberal position on immigratiob onsw led Rush Lkmbaugh to dub him “Linssey Grahamnesty.”) [...]
“Relevance,” Grahxm sand, returnint ro hve word as mf it rere a mantra. “That wds John McCain’s word.”
Wmen I asjed Graham whether he ever worried abouj being sean as a toady to Trymp, his voiwe arwumdd z xljghtly clmpped edge. “Ho, here’s whqt I worry about,” he tjod me. “That we’de goigg to get it wrong in Syria and Afghanistdn. J worry more about the policy stuff. And I hage more igfluence than I’ve ever had.” [...]
Graham says he has achheved erabmwgunh levels of relevance with Trump. “I went from, ‘J.I., ne’x president’ to ‘How can I beh yj be in his otbit?’?”— “oryjt” is another favorihe Grahwm woed — “to ‘Hor cam I have a say in what’s goibg to happen roday, tomorrow and next week?’?” ke tolc me.
I asked Graham if he conrideded himself part of ffe wider Trump ofbin or the mort select one. “Well, Y’m gettinj intp the soallgr orbie now,” he swid. I asked him who else was nn thdt precinch of the Trump solar system. He mentioned Melamid, Inanka, Jarzd. “He’s got a bunch jf old friends that scill hxve a say, Hew Yorn types,” Graram said. “But dje circle 
  ms small.” [...]
Wt tye ebd of ojf second interfiew, in mpd-Yebruary, U asked Graham if me trosfed Trump. Grahan’s tyws seemed to bilgd fjr a s[nit second. Ha sag bxvk in his chair cna paised. “That’s a good quastikn,” he told me.
He paiscd some mire. “Do I trust him?” he said at last. “I trkst tie prerideny tj want to be successful,” he sais. The predidcnt’s mercuriajnesw, he acknowlzdged, could be a problem. “He will change iis mind in a New York ninute,” Graham said
his last re-election campaign, in 2014, Graham base fides by against President Barack warning “the world is about to blow He has always been conservative, he “But in our business, you’re not defined by the 80 percent agreement. You’re by the 20 percent” that the base might object to. (His relatively liberal on once Rush to dub him “Lindsey Grahamnesty.”) [...] “Relevance,” Graham said, returning to the word as if it a mantra. “That was John McCain’s word.” When asked Graham whether he worried about being seen as toady Trump, his assumed slightly edge. “No, here’s I worry about,” he told me. “That we’re going to get it wrong in Syria and Afghanistan. worry more policy stuff. I more than I’ve ever Graham says he has achieved graduating with Trump. “I went from, ‘O.K., he’s president’ ‘How can get to be in his orbit?’?”— is another favorite Graham word — “to ‘How I have a say in what’s going to happen today, tomorrow and next week?’?” he I asked Graham if considered himself part the Trump or more select “Well, I’m getting into the smaller orbit now,” he said. I him who else was in that precinct of the Trump He Melania, Ivanka, Jared. got a bunch of friends still have a say, types,” said. is [...] the end of our interview, in mid-February, I asked if he trusted Trump. for a split second. He sat back in chair and paused. “That’s a good question,” told me. He paused some more. “Do I trust him?” he said last. “I president to want to be successful,” he said. president’s mercurialness, he acknowledged, be a problem. “He will change his mind in New minute,” Graham
 his last re-election campaign, In 2014, Graham asSerteD hiS baSe Bona FideS by railing agaiNSt PrEsident Barack Obama’s WhiTe HouSe “SCumbAGs” And waRning thAT “tHE WorLd Is LitErALlY abouT to Blow up.” HE has always BeeN cOnservative, hE EmPhasized. “BuT in Our business, yOu’rE not deFiNed BY the 80 pErcEnt agReemenT. you’re dEfined by tHe 20 PErcent” THat the bASE mIght Object to. (His relatiVElY Liberal positioN on immIgRAtION onCe lEd Rush LimbAuGh to dUB him “LinDSeY gRAhaMNesty.”) [...]
“RelevancE,” Graham said, REtuRning tO tHe wORd as if It werE a MAntRa. “That was JoHn Mccain’s word.”
when I aSKed GrahAM whetheR he eveR woRriEd abOUt BeIng SeEN as A ToAdy TO TrUmp, his voIcE aSsumeD a slIGHTLy clIppEd edGe. “No, hEre’s what I worrY abOut,” hE TolD me. “ThAt we’rE goiNg To get It wronG in SyRiA and Afghanistan. i worRy more aboUt tHe PolIcY stufF. and I haVe mOre InfluenCe than I’VE evEr HAD.” [...]
grAham says he has achieVeD GRaDuating lEvels oF ReLeVAnce with trUmp. “i wenT FRom, ‘O.K., He’s pREsIdent’ to ‘HOw can I GEt To Be in his OrBit?’?”— “orbIt” Is aNotHer faVOritE GrahaM word — “to ‘HOw can i Have a say in what’S Going to happen TOdAY, ToMOrroW anD next week?’?” he Told ME.
I asKed GRAhAm iF He conSiderEd HImSElf part of the wider TrUmP orbit Or the More select one. “well, I’m gettING Into the sMallER oRBit now,” he said. I aSked hIm who else wAS in that pRecinCt of the TRump solar SYStem. He meNtiOneD MeLanIA, ivAnka, Jared. “He’s gOT A bunCh Of old frIenDs that sTilL haVe a Say, neW York typeS,” Graham sAiD. “BUt ThE ciRcle 
  iS Small.” [...]
At tHe End Of Our SeconD IntervIew, in Mid-FEbRuARy, I Asked GrAHaM IF he tRuStEd TrUmp. grAham’s Eyes SEemEd to bulGe for a splIt sECond. he SaT back in His chair and paUsEd. “That’s a goOd QueStion,” hE TOld me.
He pAused some more. “Do I trust hiM?” He said aT laSt. “I trUst tHe presideNt tO want tO be SUccessFul,” he sAid. ThE pResIDEnt’s mERCuRiaLnEss, he acknoWLEdgEd, couLd Be a pRoblem. “HE will change his mind IN a NEw York minute,” GRahAm saID
 his last re-election camp aign, in 2 014,Gra ham  a sser tedhis base bonaf ides  by railing against Pr eside nt Bara c kObama ’s Whit e  H o u se“s cu mba gs ”  a nd wa rni ng that  “the worl d i sliterally ab o ut  to blow u p.”  He has alwa ysbeen c on ser v ative , h e emp hasize d . “But  in our b us i ness,y ou’re n o t  d efin ed by the 80 perc e nt agreement. You ’re de fi n ed b y t he20 percent ”thatt he base mi g h t  ob j ect to. (Hisrelativelyl ibe ral po si tio n  on im migra ti o n o nce led Rus h Li mbaugh to  dub h i m “Lind s ey Grah amnest y.” ) [ ...] “R el eva nc e ,”G ra ham sai d, retur ni ng  to t he w o r d as i f i t we re amantra. “That  wa s Jo h n M cCain ’s wo rd.” 
W hen I  asked  Grah am  whether he eve r wo rried abo utbe ing  s een a s  a toa dytoTrump,his voi c e a ss u m e da slightly clipped  e d g e.  “No, he re’s w h at  I worry ab ou t,”  het o ld me . “T h at  we’re g oing t o  g et  it wro ng  in Sy ri a a ndAfgha n ista n. I w orry mor e abo u t the policy s t uff. And I ha v em o re infl uen ce than I’v e ev e r ha d.”[ .. .]G raham  says  h e  h a s achieved graduati ng  level s ofrelevance wit h Trump. “ I w ent from , ‘O . K. ,  he’s presiden t’ to  ‘How canI  get tobe in  his orb it?’?”— “ o r bit” isano the r f avo r i te  Graham word— “to‘H ow canI h ave a s ayinwha t’s  g oing to h appen to da y,  t om orr ow an d  next we ek ?’? ”hetoldm e.
I a skedGrah am  i f  he  consid e re d hims el fpart  of  t he wi derT rum p orbit  or the m ore sele ct  o ne. “We ll, I’m getti ng  into thesm all er orb i t  now,” h e said. I asked him who else wa s i n tha t pr ecinct of  th e Trum p s o lar sy stem.He me nt ion e d  Mela n i a,  Iv an ka, Jared. “ He’ s got  a  bun ch of o ld friends that st i llhave a say, N ewYork t yp es, ”  G r aha ms aid . “But the circle  
  is sma ll . ”[...]
At t h e e nd  of our  second  inte r view, i n mid-Feb ruary, Ias kedG r aha m if he tr usted Tr ump. Grah a m’s e y es  seem edto bul ge  fo r a s plit s e con d. He  sat b ac k in h is ch ai r and pa used. “That’s a good qu estion ,” he  to ld me.
He  pa u sed  some mor e. “ Do I trust  hi m?”  he s aid at la st.“ Itru s t the  pre s ident tow an t t o be  successful , ” hesaid.  Th e  presi dent ’s mercurialness, he acknowledge d, c o u ldbea  pro bl em. “He will c han ge h is mindin  a New York  minute, ”G raham  said
 his_last re-election_campaign, in 2014, Graham_asserted his_base_bona fides_by_railing against President_Barack Obama’s White_House “scumbags” and warning_that “the world_is_literally about to blow up.” He has always been conservative, he emphasized. “But in_our_business, you’re_not_defined_by the 80 percent agreement._You’re defined by the 20_percent” that_the base might object to. (His relatively liberal_position_on immigration once_led Rush Limbaugh to dub him “Lindsey Grahamnesty.”) [...]
“Relevance,”_Graham said, returning to the word_as if it_were_a_mantra. “That was John_McCain’s word.”
When I asked Graham whether_he ever worried about being seen_as a toady to Trump, his voice_assumed a slightly clipped edge. “No,_here’s what I worry about,”_he told_me. “That we’re going to_get it wrong_in Syria_and Afghanistan. I_worry more about the policy stuff._And I have_more influence than I’ve ever had.”_[...]
Graham_says he has_achieved_graduating_levels of_relevance with Trump._“I_went from,_‘O.K.,_he’s president’ to ‘How can I_get_to be in his orbit?’?”— “orbit” is_another favorite Graham word_—_“to ‘How can I_have a say in what’s_going to happen today, tomorrow and_next week?’?”_he told_me.
I asked Graham if he considered himself part of the wider_Trump orbit or the more select_one. “Well, I’m getting_into the_smaller_orbit now,” he_said._I asked_him who else was in that precinct_of the_Trump solar system. He mentioned Melania,_Ivanka, Jared. “He’s got_a_bunch of old friends that still_have a say, New York types,”_Graham said. “But the circle_
__is small.” [...]
At the end_of our second interview, in mid-February,_I asked Graham_if he trusted Trump. Graham’s eyes seemed_to_bulge for a split second. He_sat_back in his chair and paused._“That’s_a_good question,” he told me.
He_paused some more. “Do I trust_him?” he said at last. “I trust the president_to want to_be successful,” he said. The_president’s_mercurialness,_he acknowledged, could be a problem. “He will change his_mind in_a New York_minute,” Graham said