Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) said on Sunday that his Democratic colleagues, in order to convince North Korea current negotiations are different than those in the past, should support his efforts to authorize the use of military force as a last resort.
"Here's what I would say to my Democratic colleagues, I appreciate you telling the president what a good deal would look like. The country needs you to back the president up to get a deal," Graham said on ABC's "Face the Nation." "So here's my question for my Democratic colleagues: If diplomacy fails, will you support my efforts to authorize the use of military force as a last resort to convince North Korea and China things are going to be different this time."
Senate Democrats sent President Donald Trump a letter last week that outlined their demands for a deal with North Korea. In order for them to agree to lifting sanctions, North Korea would have to agree to completely and permanently eliminate its nuclear and missile testing program.
"Sanctions relief by the U.S. and our allies should be dependent on dismantlement and removal of North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and Sen. Bob Menendez (D., N.J) wrote. "Any deal that explicitly or implicitly gives North Korea sanctions relief for anything other than the verifiable performance of its obligations to dismantle its nuclear and missile arsenal is a bad deal."
"A bipartisan AUMF would really make that letter much more credible. And if diplomacy fails, as a last resort, Democrats and Republicans need to put the military option on the table or we'll never get a good deal," Graham added.
Trump landed in Singapore on Sunday for the historic summit between him and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. The summit will address North Korea's rogue nuclear program and the prospect of peace on the Korean peninsula.
ABC host George Stephanopoulos asked what Graham would need to see from the summit for him not to move forward with an authorization of military force.
"We'll know diplomatic failure when we see it," Graham said. "I don't expect a deal on Tuesday. I expect a process to start on Tuesday."
Graham continued to say he expects North Korea to try to run out the clock like it has in the past.
"North Korea will try to run out the clock," Graham said. "It's not if they have to give up their nuclear missile program, it's how and when. The how is a win-win peach agreement where they get security for giving up their program, when ... They always try to run out a president in terms of the time on his watch. That's not going to happen here. So we'll find out in about a year if this is going to work. I have an AUMF already drafted. I hope I never have to use, but if you want to convince North Korea and China that things are different with Trump, then Congress needs to have his back."