Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican from South Carolina, was scheduled to make his 64th appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, but his passing the night before prevented the planned segment. Host Kristen Welker announced that President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would instead join the program to discuss Graham's life and legacy.
Welker shared on X, "Senator Lindsey Graham was scheduled to appear on @MeetThePress this morning. It would have been his 64th appearance on this broadcast. We are sending our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues."
President Trump stated that he spoke with Graham on Saturday evening, shortly before his death, after the senator had returned from Ukraine. Trump described their conversation, noting Graham's continued focus on the "SAVE America Act." "He was pushing the SAVE America act like crazy," Trump recalled. "He got back, said he just landed from Ukraine and I said, 'That's a long trip to make.' And he said — he sounded a little tired, but perfect, but a little bit tired. Had a right to be. He was a worker. He was really a worker."
Trump added that Graham "sounded great, actually... He said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the SAVE America Act. And I said, 'Well, we're going to get it done, Lindsey. We're going to get it done. I'll see you, like soon.' We thought maybe we might even meet today. And then that was it. And that was, you know, very around the time, it couldn't have been much longer. It could have been his last call. I don't know exactly, but I got a message about 1:00 in the morning from one of the people in his office that he had passed away. I said I just can't believe it. He was like a member of the family to me. It's very tough, actually. It's amazing."
Prime Minister Netanyahu described Graham as a "beloved friend" and expressed his shock at the news. He characterized Graham's death as "grief" to Israel and a "celebration" to Iran, highlighting Graham's strong stance against the Iranian regime. "Lindsey never confused good and evil," Netanyahu said. "He knew exactly where the Iranian regime is. He thought it was a great danger, not merely to Israel and to America's allies in the Middle East, but to America itself." Netanyahu also praised Graham for his unwavering clarity and courage.
Senator Graham's office released a statement confirming his passing on Saturday evening due to a "brief and sudden illness." He was 71. Graham had represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003, following four terms in the House of Representatives. A former Air Force lawyer who retired as a colonel after 33 years of service, Graham was known as a staunch advocate for a strong U.S. foreign policy. He was in the process of seeking a fifth Senate term.