President Dismisses Speculation as Medical Examiner Attributes Senator’s Death to Aortic Dissection, While FBI Continues Assisting Local Authorities
President Donald Trump said the FBI is "wasting its time" investigating the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he had any updates on the FBI's investigation or knew why the agency was examining the death of the longtime South Carolina Republican.
The president said he had no updates but noted that White House doctors had explained Graham's medical condition to him.
"I know there's all sorts of conspiracy theories going around... and I think FBI is wasting their time if they're doing that," Trump said.
Graham died on July 11. One day later, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a post on X that the bureau was assisting local authorities and had made every necessary resource available.
According to a statement released by the medical examiner's office on July 12, a preliminary report found that Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
An aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the body's main artery, allowing blood to flow between the layers of the artery wall.
Trump said Graham's father had suffered from the same condition at around the same age.
"His father had a very similar problem, as you know," Trump said. "It's very unique. At first I heard it was clogged arteries, because he did have clogged arteries. He had a problem with that ... I wish he took better care of himself. I say, you can solve that problem."
Trump added that the condition was extremely difficult to detect and said there was little Graham could have done to prevent it.
"You can detect it if you have a very bad back ... and he would tell me he had a bad back," Trump told reporters.
Graham was one of Trump's closest allies in the Senate. The prominent South Carolina Republican and former Air Force lawyer served in Congress for more than three decades.
Before his death, Graham had already secured the Republican nomination for his Senate seat and was seeking a fifth term this year.
Following his death, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham's younger sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to complete the remainder of his Senate term. She was sworn in as interim senator on Tuesday afternoon.
"Lindsey was always there for me, and now I'll be there for him," Nordone said, pledging to work hard and continue her brother's service in the Senate.
