A ruptured aorta caused by chronic heart disease has been identified as the preliminary cause of death for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, according to findings released by the Washington, D.C. medical examiner’s office on Sunday.
The initial medical assessment determined that the 71-year-old South Carolina Republican succumbed to an aortic dissection brought on by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The condition involves a sudden tear in the body’s primary artery, an emergency that medical experts note predominantly affects older men with a history of arterial plaque buildup.
While the initial findings are definitive regarding the cardiovascular failure, the medical examiner’s office noted that the official death certificate will remain pending until standard toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized over the coming weeks.
Emergency personnel were dispatched to Graham’s Capitol Hill residence at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Saturday following a 911 call reporting an individual experiencing severe chest pains. First responders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the scene before rushing the veteran lawmaker to George Washington University Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
The medical emergency occurred just hours after Graham returned to Washington from an official diplomatic trip to Kyiv, Ukraine. Shortly before his collapse, around 7:00 p.m., the senator spoke via telephone with Donald Trump.
“He sounded a little tired, but perfect, but a little bit tired,” Trump shared during an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, where Graham had been scheduled to appear Sunday morning. “He sounded great actually. He was like a member of the family to me. It’s very tough, actually.”
Graham’s family has a documented history of cardiovascular issues; his father also passed away from a sudden heart attack in his late 60s.
Graham’s passing brings an abrupt end to a consequential two-decade career in the upper chamber, where he was widely known as a leading voice on foreign policy and national defense. He consistently advocated for robust American military presence abroad, maintaining strong stances on interventions in the Middle East and championing recent legislative efforts to fund Ukrainian defense forces.
Though Graham famously clashed with Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, most notably defending the late Senator John McCain, the two eventually mended their relationship. Graham subsequently transitioned into one of the administration’s most trusted legislative confidants and a pivotal strategist on Capitol Hill.
