Amanda Coyne

The Greenville News

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said in January that choosing between Sen. Ted Cruz and Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination was "like choosing between getting shot or poisoned."  On Friday morning, he recommended that President-elect Trump nominate Cruz to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

"I would put Ted Cruz on that list.  I would suggest that President Trump look within the Senate," Graham said when asked who Trump should nominate for the court's current vacancy. " There is some talent there.  There is no stronger constitutional conservative than Ted Cruz." 

Graham, who ran against Trump and Cruz in the Republican presidential primary, had supportive words Friday for the president-elect that he had vocally criticized throughout the presidential campaign, and who he did not vote for.  Graham voted for independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin over Trump on election day. 

"He is my president," Graham said of Trump at a Veteran's Day celebration at Greenville Memorial Hospital. 

Graham expressed hope that Trump would begin his administration by pursuing legislation to repair infrastructure, which he described as an issue with bipartisan appeal.  That same issue was at the forefront of debate in the South Carolina Statehouse during this year's session. 

"I believe we need to rebuild our roads and bridges.  Focus on something that Republicans and Democrats can agree upon," Graham said. " Enact your agenda, but if you can start out with putting points on the board, bringing us together -- we’re going to repeal and replace Obamacare, but that comes later in the year. 

"The very best thing President Trump can do for us is do something that unites the country, unites Republicans and Democrats.  Then we’ll get to fighting each other, which is part of democracy.  It’s OK to disagree, but there’s so many things we agree upon." 

South Carolina's senior senator also expressed hope that Trump would increase the size of the military, saying it is "insane" that the U.S. armed forces are at their smallest level since World War II. 

"As long as there's one Marine with a rifle, the country will be safe.  Looking at our budget, we might be down to one Marine," Graham joked while addressing a crowd of veterans, military families and hospital employees at the event. 

Graham, a retired Air Force colonel, also called for reform to the Department of Veteran's Affairs, saying military veterans should be able to go to any health care provider and have that care fully covered by their benefits.