South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham’s preliminary cause of death has been revealed after he suffered a “brief and sudden illness” at his Washington, D.C. home.
The 71-year-old Republican died from an aortic rupture caused by hardened arteries, the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia concluded in a preliminary report on Sunday, released by Graham’s office.
The condition is when there is a break in the main artery that carries blood from the heart. It is caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, when there is a gradual weakening of the arteries.
“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the medical examiner's office said in the statement.
A fourth-term senator and staunch ally of President Donald Trump, Graham died on Saturday evening. Emergency dispatch audio indicated that paramedics were called to his home around 8:30 p.m. in response to a cardiac arrest.
News of his death rippled quickly through the Capitol, catching colleagues off guard and prompting an outpouring of tributes from both sides of the aisle — and from leaders across the world. It also raised questions about who might be tapped to fill his seat.
Speaking to NBC News on Sunday morning, President Donald Trump said he was shocked to hear the news, which he called “very tough.” He described Graham as having been “like a member of the family.”
The 80-year-old president revealed that Graham had called him around 7 p.m. on Saturday in what Trump said may have been his last phone call. He said Graham — fresh off a trip from Ukraine — sounded “a little tired.”
The president, who praised the senator as an invaluable ally on Capitol Hill, ordered that all American flags across the country be flown at half-mast until Saturday in Graham’s honor.
In lengthy posts on social media, Senate colleagues remembered Graham as a hard worker who was eager to work across party lines.
“He was willing to work on gnarly issues and take on (at times) political risks for the right reasons,” Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, wrote on X. Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, wrote: “Lindsey was a fearless patriot, a devoted public servant, and one of the fiercest advocates for America’s national security.”
Graham’s career largely came to be defined by his evolution from Trump antagonist to one of the president’s most dependable supporters.
When both men were running for president in 2015, Graham labeled Trump a “xenophobic religious bigot.” Trump returned fire on the campaign trail, branding Graham a “disgrace,” a “nut job” and “one of the dumbest human beings I’ve ever seen.”
But, upon winning the presidency, the frost thawed quickly, and Graham emerged as a frequent and forceful defender of the president. After fending off a primary challenge last month, Graham thanked Trump for his endorsement, calling him “not far behind God.”
A longtime foreign policy hawk, the South Carolina senator was an outspoken advocate of war with Iran. He frequently called for a more muscular approach to the war, and even suggested that Trump invade Kharg Island, a vital oil hub off the mainland. Graham also repeatedly pressed the U.S. to do more to defend Ukraine.
The Independent has reached out to Graham’s office for comment.
With Graham’s death, questions have turned to who will succeed him.
Under South Carolina law, the governor may appoint an interim replacement. A special Republican primary is scheduled for August 11, and the winner will face Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee, in November.
In his interview with NBC News, President Trump said he had someone in mind for Graham’s seat, but he declined to name the person. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — who is from South Carolina — reportedly received calls Sunday from people urging him to enter the race. South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace also signaled she would be open to running.
The senator’s death comes as his colleague, 84-year-old Sen. Mitch McConnell, remains hospitalized.
McConnell, who is set to retire at the end of his current term, was admitted to the hospital on June 14, according to a spokesperson. After weeks of limited updates, his office said Sunday that McConnell had fallen and later developed a mild case of pneumonia.
