Senator Lindsey Graham has finally addressed the viral bubble wand he was seen carrying at Disney World while a partial government shutdown dragged on. When asked about the wand's whereabouts now that he is back on Capitol Hill, the South Carolina Republican admitted he did not know. "I didn't buy it for me," Graham told TMZ in a video released Wednesday, explaining that he purchased the bubble wand "for a friend's girl."
Disney Trip During Shutdown
Graham faced widespread ridicule for taking a personal trip to Disney World late last month as lawmakers remained deadlocked over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The partial government shutdown has still not been resolved. Photos published by TMZ showed the senator dining at Chef Mickey's, waiting in line for Space Mountain, and carrying the now-infamous bubble wand through the Magic Kingdom.
At the time, Graham told TMZ that he had traveled to South Florida for a meeting with Trump administration officials and then went to Orlando to visit friends. "I voted seven times to fully fund the government. Call a Democrat," he said.
Background on the Shutdown
Funding for DHS lapsed on February 14, but Democratic lawmakers have refused to pass a spending bill that funds the entire agency until reforms to its immigration arm are implemented. The demands for changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection followed the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.
Graham's trip to the so-called most magical place on Earth occurred during a two-week recess. He was not the only lawmaker seen enjoying leisure time while federal workers went without pay. Representative Robert Garcia, a California Democrat, was photographed at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas casino. "Actually I don't mind what tmz is doing here," Garcia posted on X. "Like the story says my dad has lived in Vegas for 15 years and I had just finished lunch with him. I try to see him whenever I can. And like I said a few days ago, Speaker Mike Johnson should have never sent us all home."
Upcoming Recess and Campaigning
Congress will go on another break next week. Graham told TMZ in Wednesday's video that he plans to spend it campaigning in South Carolina. When asked if he would return to Disney World, Graham replied, "I'm not gonna go to Disney World this time. I'm gonna go campaign at home."
Ongoing Funding Crisis
It has been more than 70 days since the DHS shutdown began, and Republicans and Democrats remain in a gridlock over the funding dispute. President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum earlier this month directing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to pay agency employees using "funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to the functions of DHS."
However, the Office of Management and Budget warned lawmakers in a new memo that DHS will soon run out of money to pay its employees. "If this funding is exhausted, the administration will be unable to pay all DHS personnel beginning in May, which will once again unleash havoc on air travel, leave critical law enforcement officers—including our brave Secret Service agents—and the Coast Guard without paychecks, and jeopardize national security," the letter obtained by The Hill stated.
Congress continues to struggle with low approval ratings, with just 10 percent of Americans satisfied with the job lawmakers are doing, according to a recent Gallup poll.
