Trump golfs with Graham ahead of impeachment trial

President Trump golfed Monday with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) at his club in West Palm Beach, Fla.

A spokesman for the senator confirmed that the two men were scheduled to play together at Trump International Golf Club. A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Graham is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters on Capitol Hill and is a key figure in the looming Senate impeachment trial. He has said he hopes for a quick proceeding that ends with Trump’s acquittal after the House impeached the president earlier this month for alleged abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Trump has regularly voiced a desire for several controversial witnesses, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, to testify, but the White House has more recently softened its demands for a lengthy trial.

Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have pushed for administration officials to testify in the trial. Lawmakers are expected to restart negotiations over parameters for the trial upon returning from recess next month.

CNN reported that Trump golfed a day earlier with former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.). The ex-congressman was briefly expected to join the president’s outside legal team to defend him against impeachment, but the arrangement fell through shortly after it was announced due to lobbying restrictions.

Trump is spending the holidays at his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach. He arrived on Dec. 20 and is scheduled to return to Washington on Sunday.

Mar-a-Lago is located a short drive from Trump International Golf Club, which the president has visited most days during his vacation so far.

The White House only infrequently provides information on the president’s activities or his playing partners when he visits one of his golf clubs.

During his campaign for the White House, Trump was a fierce critic of how much time then-President Obama spent golfing.