Senator Lindsey Graham defended himself on Thursday against accusations that he shouldn’t have Disney World while the government is partially shut down. Graham was photographed enjoying the parks over the weekend and posted to social media.
Lindsey Graham, who is single and has no kids of his own, told TMZ earlier in the week that his trip was part of an extended work trip focused on his work with special envoy Steve Witkoff to normalize relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. Many questioned, however, why Disney World was his choice of leisure activity.
So is Lindsey Graham a closeted Disney Adult? pic.twitter.com/8k4FSBZbYn
— art tavana (@arttavana) April 3, 2026
When asked about the trip by WORLD reporter Carolina Lumetta, Graham stood firm. “Because I like Disney,” he said. “It’s a great place to go. It’s a great place to share [with] friends. But I didn’t do anything wrong, and I didn’t shut the government down. I don’t know where everybody else went on the break, but I’ve been working my butt off here. But, I’m entitled to life, too, and at the end of the day, that’s all you got to say.”
His remarks come as several lawmakers face scrutiny for traveling away from Washington, D.C., during the shutdown, which has left parts of the Department of Homeland Security without full funding for more than 40 days amid negotiations over changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The South Carolina senator shared a photo Monday evening showing himself aiming a shotgun, writing, “Spent some time breaking clays … Doesn’t get much better than that.”
In addition to working over the weekend, Lindsey Graham was spotted having fun at Disney World — riding rides, posing with guests and even holding a pink bubble wand for a friend’s daughter.
Lindsey Graham criticized for Disney World visit https://t.co/P2kq9gjAod
— Naples Daily News (@ndn) April 3, 2026
“I had a meeting with Trump officials down in South Florida on Friday,” Lindsey Graham said. “Then I flew down to Orlando to meet some friends.”
Graham posted a photo of himself Sunday night holding a shotgun and looking down range, captioning the image, “Spent some time breaking clays … Doesn’t get much better than that.” Graham also spent time over the weekend riding Disney World attractions and wandering around like any other tourist—even snagging a pink bubble wand to help entertain a friend’s child.
TMZ has been capturing images of senators and House members vacationing while Congress has been unable to agree on providing funding for DHS—forcing some federal workers to go without money for groceries, gas, childcare, and even mortgages.
Graham’s day at the theme park drew particular scorn from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who tweeted out a photo of Graham with the caption: “Divas still need vacation.” Twitter users quickly reminded Newsom of his trip to the high-end French Laundry restaurant without a mask amid California’s own harsh lockdown orders that shuttered schools, churches, and prevented many families from being with loved ones in hospitals.
Screenshots obtained by TMZ show Graham at Magic Kingdom’s “Tangled” storefront on Friday, March 27. In one photo, Graham’s holding a bubble wand and talking to an employee. Another shows Graham eating at Chef Mickey’s restaurant inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
TMZ has also obtained and shared images of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz waiting at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, California Rep. Robert Garcia visiting a casino in Las Vegas, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders departing D.C., Sen. Amy Klobuchar touring a Minnesota high school, multiple members of Congress flying to Scotland, Sen. Cory Booker relaxing in Los Angeles, and Rep. John James vacationing in the Caribbean.
Much has been made of Lindsey Graham going to Disney World by himself, despite reports that he was meeting with friends who had children with them. But data obtained by previous executives and recently from Business Insider shows that adult guests without children make up about 40% to 50% of visitors to Disney theme parks. About 42% of those waiting in line for character greetings are adults without children.
