U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made calls for the United States military to shoot down Russian fighter jets after the country downed a US drone on Tuesday.
Senator Graham told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that Russia should be “held accountable” for destroying the US drone that was operating over the Black Sea.
Lindsey Graham on the encounter between a US drone and Russian planes: "What would Ronald Reagan do right now? He would start shooting Russian planes down if they were threatening our assets." pic.twitter.com/rmO4Vl6dd8
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 15, 2023
Calling for an escalation in aggression, Graham said the US should shoot down Russian aircraft in retaliation. “If you ever get near another US asset flying in international waters, your airplane will be shot down,” Graham suggested.
The South Carolina senator went on to claim the late former Republican icon Ronald Reagan would agree with his warmongering claims. “What would Ronald Reagan do right now? He would start shooting Russian planes down if they were threatening our assets. American foreign policy is in freefall.”
Watch the full interview below:
Citing the Chinese spy balloons and Russia drone attack, Graham said President Joe Biden is acting like a “deer in the headlights” when it comes to American foreign policy and defense.
“All I can tell you is that on multiple fronts, we’re in a dangerous situation. Weakness creates provocation. They know they can get away with it.”
On Thursday, the Russians shot down a US-manufactured MQ-9 surveillance drone over the Black Sea. “Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9,” US Air Force General James Hecker said of the incident.
“In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash,” Hecker added.