Lindsey Graham 'concerned about national security' after Biden debate

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he is “concerned about national security” after President Biden’s debate performance last month, saying he believes Biden is mentally “compromised.”

Graham said in a CBS “Face the Nation” interview with Robert Costa that Senate Republicans have aired concerns about the president.

“Most of us are concerned with the national security implications of this debate about President Biden's health,” Graham said. “Most Democrats are worried about Biden winning the election. I'm worried about biting Biden being the commander in chief for the next four months.”

A faltering debate performance has led to rising calls among Democrats for Biden to step out of the presidential race amid concerns that he can't defeat former President Trump in November. 

Graham also doubled down on calls for Biden to take a cognitive test. The president said in an ABC News interview Friday that a test isn’t necessary.

“I'd like to see is President Biden take a cognitive test,” Graham said. “I think everybody going forward in the line of succession should have a neurological exam on a regular basis.”

He later added that Trump should also be asked to take a cognitive test.

“My predecessor, Sen. Strom Thurmond, was a very vigorous man, but he was 100. He was the Speaker pro tem of the Senate,” Graham said. “This is a wake up call for the country. We need to make sure that the people who are going to be in the line of succession are capable of being commander in chief under dire circumstances.”

“Here's what I worry about, that our allies see a compromised Joe Biden. That our enemies see a compromised Joe Biden,” he continued. "Given all the evidence in front of us, he is not only in denial; this is a dangerous time for the American people to have somebody at the ship leading the ship of state who seems to be compromised."