Trump Mourns Senator Lindsey Graham, Recalling Their Final Conversation

On Sunday, President Trump paid tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham, describing him as a “great politician” while mourning the loss of one of his most steadfast allies. The President revealed that he had spoken with Graham just hours before the Senator passed away on Saturday evening.

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Mr. Trump spoke with a somber tone as he reflected on Graham’s political talent and their personal bond.

“He had a unique ability—he was able to deal with Democrats and Republicans alike,” Trump remarked. “If I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out. He was truly a master politician.”

The President noted that the South Carolina Republican had called him on Saturday night, shortly before the news of his passing was delivered. Their discussion centered on the SAVE America Act, the voter identification legislation that the President has been actively advocating for in Congress.

While Mr. Trump stated that Graham seemed “perfect” during their call, he noted that the Senator, who had recently returned from a trip to Ukraine, had mentioned feeling “tired.”

Referring to Graham as “like a member of the family,” the President praised the Senator’s legislative record, specifically citing his defense of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s 2018 Supreme Court nomination as “one of the great classics” in Senate history.

Regarding the cause of death, the President expressed uncertainty, though he noted that while Graham’s office cited a “brief and sudden illness,” reports of a cardiac arrest at his home seemed plausible. “It had to be something like that because, aside from being tired, he was fine,” Trump said. “A quick end… maybe that’s not the worst way to go.”

While the President declined to name a specific successor, he indicated he is considering a “great” candidate to fill the vacancy. Under South Carolina law, Governor Henry McMaster has the authority to appoint a replacement to complete the term, with a special election potentially scheduled for August 11.

“I never thought I’d be in this position,” the President added, remarking that he always believed Graham would “live forever.”

The President also announced via social media on Sunday that flags will be flown at half-staff until Saturday evening in honor of the Senator.

Graham was widely known as a foreign policy hawk with a focus on Iran. Following the recent preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran to halt hostilities, the Senator had expressed cautious support for the administration while maintaining a firm stance on the necessity of remaining aggressive toward Iran.

“We want diplomacy to succeed,” Graham had previously stated on social media. “But if Iran tries to test us, we will obliterate them.”

Due to his recent travel, Graham was originally scheduled to appear on “Meet the Press” Sunday morning, but he was replaced by the President and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During his recent mission to Ukraine, Graham had been working on a bipartisan agreement with the White House to implement sanctions against entities purchasing Russian oil.

The Senator had been a vocal proponent of stringent sanctions against nations conducting business with Moscow, a position that had previously faced delays due to the administration’s push for a ceasefire.

“As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine,” Graham and three other senators declared in a joint statement last Friday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed deep gratitude for Graham’s support, sharing a photograph of the two leaders together in Ukraine.

Graham was also a prominent figure at the recent NATO summit in Turkey, where he met with President Zelensky.

“Thank you, Lindsey, for recognizing our warriors,” Zelensky wrote. Following the news of the Senator’s passing, Zelensky added, “America and the world have lost a determined leader.”

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