White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday it would be difficult to imagine Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) as president, amid questions over who would serve in the role of first lady.
“It’s hard for me to imagine both a Graham White House and what a Graham White House would be without a first lady,” Earnest said, deferring to Graham to describe the role in additional detail.
{mosads}Graham, a long-shot Republican presidential candidate who has never been married, talked in an interview this week about a potential “rotating first lady.”
“Well, I’ve got a sister. She could play that role if necessary,” Graham, 59, said.
Just two former American presidents were unmarried when elected, James Buchanan and Grover Cleveland, with Cleveland later marrying.
Graham’s status as a bachelor presidential candidate was raised again Thursday just moments before the White House briefing, when Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) was caught on a hot mic.
Kirk referred to Graham’s “rotating first lady” comment before describing him as a “bro with no ho.”
“It’s hard to imagine this White House without this first lady,” Earnest said, referring to Michelle Obama.
“She obviously has played such an important role, not just in carrying out the ceremonial aspects of her job, but also in advocating for the kinds of things she and the president believe should be national priorities.”
Graham formally entered the crowded field of 10 GOP hopefuls early this month.