DC Medical Examiner Attributes Lindsey Graham’s Death to Aortic Dissection

Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican and one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 after a brief and sudden illness. His office announced the passing early Sunday, stating that the family appreciated prayers and asked for privacy during a difficult period, without initially disclosing circumstances.

A subsequent statement from Graham’s office conveyed preliminary findings from the District of Columbia Medical Examiner: the senator succumbed to an aortic dissection resulting from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease—a rupture of the aorta caused by hardened arteries.

President Trump, who frequently spoke with Graham, lamented the loss as “like a member of the family.” Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump noted that Graham had called him Saturday night after returning from Ukraine and “sounded a little bit tired, but perfect.” The president directed that flags be flown at half-staff until Saturday evening.

A noted foreign policy hawk, Graham was among Washington’s most influential voices on international affairs, advising Trump on the Iran conflict and Russia. On Friday, he had unveiled an agreement with the administration to advance a package of sanctions against Moscow.

As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee during Trump’s second term, Graham played a central role in shepherding major legislation through a narrowly divided chamber where Republicans held a 53–47 edge.

Under South Carolina law, Republican Governor Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary successor to Graham, who was campaigning for a fifth term in November. A special primary must be convened within weeks, and the November general election winner will assume a full six‑year term in January.

Elected to the Senate in 2002 after service in the House, Graham long advocated robust U.S. military intervention and strong national defense, positions that eventually put him at odds with the party’s growing isolationist wing.

Though he briefly challenged Trump for the 2016 presidential nomination and initially criticized the businessman as “unfit for office,” Graham later became a steadfast ally. Their early friction included Trump reading Graham’s cellphone number at a rally and Graham’s profane response to Trump’s remarks about Senator John McCain—Graham’s closest friend and a “Three Amigos” compatriot alongside Joe Lieberman.

After Trump’s election, Graham shifted sharply, becoming a regular golf partner and defender, even as McCain remained a critic. In a 2018 AP interview, Graham cited McCain’s lesson that one must help the president after elections, saying, “You can be a better critic when people understand that you’re trying to help them be successful.”

Graham defended Trump during both first‑term impeachments, reversing his own role as a House prosecutor in Bill Clinton’s 1998 impeachment. Although he momentarily broke with Trump after the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack—declaring “Count me out. Enough is enough”—he soon returned to the president’s side.

Days before his death, Graham visited Ukraine and met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who noted the senator’s ten visits since Russia’s 2022 invasion and called him “a true defender of freedom.” Graham was also a chief backer of Trump’s stance on Iran, advocating confrontation with Tehran and supporting a tentative June ceasefire framework despite GOP unease.

His extensive travel made him a familiar figure among world leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned the loss of “one of its greatest friends” to Israel and a “great patriot” for America, highlighting their shared view on inseparable security ties.

In his legislative career, Graham leveraged the Budget Committee gavel to advance tax law without filibuster threat, previously led the Judiciary Committee during Amy Coney Barrett’s 2020 Supreme Court confirmation, and was positioned to reclaim that role. He was also integral to the bipartisan 2013 immigration overhaul that passed the Senate with 68 votes but stalled in the House, and his support for a citizenship path drew internal Republican criticism.

Democratic colleagues such as Dick Durbin and Mark Warner praised his bipartisan commitment, with Warner noting that “personal relationships often mattered more to him than the political disagreements of the day.” Richard Blumenthal described Graham as “over the moon” about the Russia sanctions deal, voicing shock at his sudden death, while Jaime Harrison recalled mutual respect despite electoral battles.

Republicans likewise honored him: John Barrasso cited his “quick wit and infectious laughter,” McMaster called him “irreplaceable,” and former President George W. Bush commended his understanding of the world and love of country.

Graham often reflected on his modest upbringing above a South Carolina bar, where he helped raise his sister Darline after their parents’ early deaths. He never married and had no children. Having won 57% of the June GOP primary, he faced Democrat Annie Andrews and others in November.

His death triggers a scramble for a rare open Senate seat; names such as Representatives Nancy Mace and Russell Fry have surfaced for interim appointment. Separately, former Republican leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized weeks ago for undisclosed reasons.

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