Many were shocked to hear of the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Graham had served in the Senate since 2003. He’d also served in the U.S. Air Force, became a Colonel, and earned a Bronze Star. He served in the Air Force Reserve while in Congress. As a young man, he took on the responsibility of being the guardian of his 13-year-old sister after both of his parents died.
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Graham was the chair of the Senate Budget Committee and was running for reelection in November. He had just returned from Ukraine after being there on Friday and meeting with its president, Volodymyr Zelensky. He had been scheduled to appear on Meet the Press on Sunday. The official statement said he had a “brief, sudden illness.” Reports indicate that emergency crews were called to his address for a cardiac arrest situation.
As we reported, President Donald Trump had kind words for Graham, praising his service.
READ MORE: Tributes Pour in for Sen. Lindsey Graham From President Donald Trump, DC, and the World (Updated)
‘It Could Have Been His Last Call’: Trump Mourns the Loss of Lindsey Graham on ‘Meet the Press’
Trump called in to a couple of Sunday shows to speak about Graham, including this moment with CNN’s Jake Tapper. Trump pointed to what he thought was Graham’s “finest moment” in the Senate – his fiery defense of the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his condemnation of the disgraceful Democrats’ attacks on him.
President Trump was asked for his final thoughts on Senator Lindsey Graham — and without hesitation, pointed to Graham’s defense of Justice Brett Kavanaugh as his defining moment.
Trump called it one of the greatest moments in Senate history and urged Americans to replay it.… pic.twitter.com/RtTsQIACXt
— Overton (@overton_news) July 12, 2026
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He was treated very unfairly by the Democrats. I’ve never seen anything like it. Maybe the worst I’ve ever seen anyone treated. That includes me. Well, maybe not me, but it includes just about everybody. He was treated so unfairly.
And Lindsey, as you remember, had that moment. And, you know, I’ll tell you, Jake, I think it was the top ten, maybe a top five moment in the history of the Senate. It was an incredible display. And he did it from the heart. He felt strongly about Brett, and he did it from the heart.
And it turned that whole thing around. He was really amazing. That was it, that was one they should replay.
Here was that moment when Graham was furious at the game-playing Democrats had done to try to do in Kavanaugh, and as Trump said, Graham’s defense helped to destroy the Democrats’ effort.
I disagreed with Senator Lindsey Graham on a number of issues, but this is how I am going to choose to remember him.
Fighting for the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Lindsey 2.0 was something else. RIP. pic.twitter.com/HI4D9Eazzw
— Thomas Hern (@ThomasMHern) July 12, 2026
“If you wanted an FBI investigation, you could have come to us!” Graham roared. “What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life, hold this seat open, and hope you win in 2020…. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics…Boy, ya’ll want power, I hope you never get it….To my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you are legitimizing the most despicable thing I’ve ever seen in my time in politics.”
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That was powerful, righteous anger – the kind we need so much more of to fight such perfidy.
Then there were a couple of famous moments that showed Graham’s humor.
Never forget Lindsey Graham’s amazing sense of humor—during the heated Kavanaugh confirmation fight:
Protester: Kavanaugh should take a polygraph.
Sen. Lindsey Graham: “Why don’t we dunk him in water and see if he floats?” pic.twitter.com/ynTRuOavho
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) July 12, 2026
“Why don’t we dunk him in water and see if he floats?” Graham snarked, referencing what used to be done during witch trials.
Look at the craziness behind him.
LINDSEY GRAHAM moments ago on Fox (with protesters yelling behind him):
“These people can yell all they want to. Doesn’t matter. I believe him.” pic.twitter.com/xyOiaGZnOF
— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) September 27, 2018
Then there was this classic moment, when a “Karen” screamed at him over the issue on the street outside the Capitol building.
When screaming mentally ill liberal women descended upon him during the Kavanaugh hearing, Graham laughed at them and told them to “move to South Carolina”.pic.twitter.com/vrQAvQQ9Ug https://t.co/vrQAvQQ9Ug https://t.co/rgmbXj3RaZ
— Flappr (@flapprdotnet) July 12, 2026
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Regardless of anyone’s feelings about Lindsey Graham, this will still be one of the funniest photos in recent history. pic.twitter.com/miE62DnTzJ
— Oscar Von Reuenthal (@OscarVReuenthal) July 12, 2026
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