Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Senator and a close aide of US President Donald Trump, died on Sunday after “brief and sudden illness.” Trump said that the Senator called him on Saturday night after returning from a trip to Ukraine and “sounded a bit tired”.
“He sounded a little bit tired, but perfect,” Trump told NBC’s ”Meet the Press.”
Graham, a staunch pro-Israel and hawkish supporter of Trump’s US polices, was last seen in Kyiv, where he went for a visit to meet with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky. Track live updates for US-Iran news
Trump said Graham was “like a member of the family”. He implied that he may have been among the last people to have spoken to Graham before his death.
‘Graham called me last night,’ says Trump
The US President made a similar claim in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper where he termed Graham’s death as ‘devastating’.
“I thought he was fine. He called me last night. He just got back from Ukraine. And he had a great time. He was telling me about the trip. He was working very, very hard, because we know he wanted to make America happy,” Trump said in the interview.
“He was full of vim and vigor. He was tired. He said, ‘I’m tired, because it’s a long trip.’ But other than that, he was fine. And he called me, I guess, moments before, because he called me like 6:30 or something. And the medical people got there a little bit later,” he added.
Also read: India declares one-day national mourning for Qatar’s Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
Mourning Graham’s death, Trump said he was “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known”. He praised the 71-year-old South Carolina Republican as a “true American Patriot” who was “always working”.
The US President expressed his grief, noting that the senator “will be greatly missed” and promising that further details and arrangements would follow.
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Also read: ‘Lindsey Graham sent to hell’: Iranian state TV ‘congratulates’ citizens after US Senator’s sudden death
In a statement, Graham’s office said the family of the Republican Senator from South Carolina had sought privacy during the difficult time.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement said.
