A preliminary report by a medical examiner found Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died from an aortic dissection, in which a tear occurs in the inner layer of the main artery. These tears usually occur when there is high blood pressure.
Lindsey Graham died from an aorta rupture stemming from hardening of arteries, according to the medical examiner’s preliminary findings.
— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) July 13, 2026 at 12:18 AM
From AP News:
The tear in the inner wall of the aorta, called an aortic dissection, was related to the hardening of Graham’s arteries. An official cause of death will be disclosed after toxicological and microscopic testing.
Graham, a prominent South Carolina Republican and former Air Force lawyer who served in Congress for more than three decades, had turned 71 years old just two days before dying on Saturday night. His office had originally said he had suffered from a “brief and sudden illness.”
Axios is reporting that Graham joked about dying just hours before his death.
A person who spoke with Graham shortly afterward said the senator complained that he was feeling unwell. When the person urged him to seek medical attention immediately, Graham said he would do so Sunday morning after his scheduled appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Graham then joked: “I can’t die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out and do Israeli-Saudi normalization.” He passed away several hours later.
“A person who spoke with Graham shortly after his call with Trump said the senator complained that he was feeling unwell. When the person urged him to seek medical attention immediately, Graham said he would do so Sunday morning after his scheduled appearance on NBC’s ‘Meet the…
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 12, 2026
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