office. >> reporter: it hasn't always been this way. the graham of today -- >> i have the president's back because i think this is a setup. >> reporter: -- is a far cry from the graham of a few years ago. >> we know how you make america great again, tell donald trump to go to hell. >> reporter: known then for slamming trump during the campaign. >> he's a race-baiting xenophobic religious bigot and he doesn't represent my party. >> reporter: and at times going against him and admitting he urges senator mccain to turn over the steele dossier of trump russia allegations to the fbi. but in the last year graham has strategically cozied up to the president. the two golf and speak on the phone often. >> we have a man who has become a friend of mine. it's shocking, isn't it? >> i like him and he likes him. >> reporter: graham has a lot to gain politically in hitching his wagon to trump. the senator is up for re-election in south carolina in 2020, where tanding with the