Donald Trump’s ally Lindsey Graham’s possible cause of death revealed | World | News
Donald Trump’s ally Lindsey Graham has died, it was announced on the weekend (Image: Getty)
US Senator Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress, died after a tear in his aorta, according to a preliminary medical examiner finding shared by his office. The Washington DC medical examiner found the 71-year-old died from an aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease.
An aortic dissection is a tear in the main artery that carries blood to the heart. A spokesperson for the South Carolina Republican said his death certificate will remain pending until “all the toxicological and microscopic testing” has been finalised. Graham died on Saturday evening after returning from a trip to Kyiv, where he had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Trump later told NBC that Graham had called him on Saturday night after returning from Ukraine and had “sounded a little bit tired, but perfect”. The president said he ended the conversation by telling his longtime ally: “Come over anytime you want.”
Deeply saddened by the news of the passing of United States Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.
He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it… pic.twitter.com/7oE2F5ZDAy
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 12, 2026
Paying tribute on X, Mr Zelensky said he was “deeply saddened” by Graham’s death, adding: “Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.”
Elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham became one of Washington’s most influential voices on foreign policy, frequently advocating for US military intervention overseas.
He was also a strong supporter of the war in Iran. Last month, he told CBS that the United States would “obliterate” Iran if it did not submit to US control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday: “Sara and I grieve with the American people over the loss of our dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham.
“In our recent meeting, I said, ‘Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine. We have no better friend than Lindsey.'”
Although Graham later became one of Trump’s staunchest supporters, he had previously been one of his fiercest Republican critics during the 2016 presidential campaign, warning: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed… and we will deserve it.”
He also described Trump as “unfit for office” and later likened his winning the Republican nomination to “being shot in the head”.
He later voted against convicting Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial and backed his successful 2024 presidential election campaign.
After briefly breaking with Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack, Graham concluded his party’s future was tied to the president and resumed defending him, later saying: “Can we move forward without President Trump?
“The answer is no. I’ve determined we can’t grow without him.”
Graham later became one of Trump’s closest allies in Congress, championing many of the president’s national security and foreign policy positions.
He strongly supported the administration’s hardline approach to Iran and warned last month that the United States would “obliterate” Iran if it did not submit to US control of the Strait of Hormuz.
President Trump paid tribute on Sunday, describing Graham as a “true American Patriot” in a social media post.
He later told NBC’s Meet the Press: “I just can’t believe it. He was like a member of the family.”
His successor will be elected in November’s midterm elections, when Republicans will seek to defend their 53-47 Senate majority over Democrats and both parties battle for control of the chamber.
