Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) once vowed that there would be “holy hell to pay” if President Donald Trump ever fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Yet when Sessions got the boot on Wednesday ― his letter said he resigned at the president’s request ― Graham offered a different message.

“I look forward to working with President Trump to find a confirmable, worthy successor so that we can start a new chapter at the Department of Justice and deal with both the opportunities and challenges our nation faces,” he said in a statement online.

Graham also praised Sessions, saying he had “served our nation well and honorably” and “dedicated his whole life to conservatism and upholding the Rule of Law.”

That’s a far cry from Graham’s vow to defend his former Senate colleague from Trump:

Lindsay Graham: "Any effort to go after Mueller could be the beginning of the end of the Trump presidency." pic.twitter.com/CZGyL8i3D5 — Axios (@axios) July 27, 2017

Graham began changing his tune in August.

“The president is entitled to an attorney general he has faith in,” he said. “And I think there will come a time, sooner rather than later, where it will be time to have a new face and a fresh voice at the Department of Justice.”

There have been rumors that Graham was being considered for the attorney general job. Last month, he claimed Trump jokingly asked if he wanted it. Graham told CNN that he rejected the overture.

“I wouldn’t give this up for anything,” Graham claimed he told the president.

On social media, critics called out Graham for his about-face:

'If Jeff Sessions is fired, there will be holy hell to pay.' — Lindsey Graham in 2017@LindseyGrahamSC could you explain this, sycophant?#coward #ProtectMueller #flipflops — MC (@user33131) November 8, 2018

CC @LindseyGrahamSC



By the way Lindsey, you are a coward. https://t.co/Mz5MJ9NPSP — David Weissman ✡️ (@davidmweissman) November 8, 2018

Dear Sen. Graham,



I prepared this for you. Please send it. pic.twitter.com/NTwBEJGphk — Roger Y (@yoerges_roger) November 8, 2018

Lindsey Graham is a coward. He won’t do anything. He’ll support this move. https://t.co/czXqT9Vuza — Positive Change (@4poschanges) November 7, 2018

This one

IS STILL VALID !! pic.twitter.com/jpm4JU5HCy — Students for Democracy (@lister_lester) November 7, 2018

Do any of Lindsey Graham's words mean a damn thing? https://t.co/jfzdV8DFM1 — John Moffitt (@JohnRMoffitt) November 8, 2018

Me, waiting for @LindseyGrahamSC to do literally anything after saying: "If Sessions is fired, there will be holy hell to pay", in July 2017 pic.twitter.com/EFYHOjZgB5 — SANTA Clausewitz's Razor🎅🏻 (@TankCPTNemo) November 8, 2018

@LindseyGrahamSC Hey Lindsey, Sessions was just fired, is there still going to be holy hell to pay? Asking for America!🇺🇸 https://t.co/8jndSN8qMZ — Freebird (@jsfreebird) November 8, 2018

What happened to the holy hell he was supposed to pay for this, Lindsey? — Adam (@IndoorCatRayr) November 7, 2018

Lindsey Graham redefines “gutless coward” on a monthly basis these days. https://t.co/4OZKiwArRM — Aran Heaney (@aranheaney) November 7, 2018