Former President Donald Trump dismissed the notion that Russia poisoned Senator Lindsey Graham, who passed away on Saturday, July 12, at the age of 71.
Despite Trump's denial, speculation surrounding this geopolitically symbolic death continues to swirl.
According to a Newsweek report, Trump addressed a direct inquiry from a television host by asserting that Graham had "deeply rooted health issues not easy to detect."
Trump Faces Questions Over Graham's Death
On Monday, July 14, Newsmax host Greg Kelly directly questioned Trump:
"The Russians have a habit of poisoning individuals they dislike, and Graham once called for Putin's removal. Do you have suspicions or concerns? Do you think we know the full story behind his death?"
Trump's response was measured: "To address the conspiracy theory, I'd love to say yes, but I believe he had some issues."
Trump further elaborated that these issues were "deeply rooted" and challenging to diagnose.
He noted that Graham's father had passed away at a similar age and described the incident as a catastrophic internal failure: a part of the senator's body "literally exploded."
Trump Dismisses FBI Involvement
The following day at the White House, Trump was more assertive regarding the FBI's involvement.
"I think the FBI is wasting its time if it's doing that," he stated, denying any criminal activity linked to the death.
Graham's Final Hours and Eerie Joke
Senator Graham had returned from Kiev on Friday, July 10, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced a deal with the White House to push forward a severe sanctions package against Russia, which included 500% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil.
That very night, Graham spoke with Trump over the phone to brief him on the trip. Trump recalled the senator "sounding a bit tired."
Shortly after hanging up, Graham confided in a friend that he wasn't feeling well, and when urged to seek medical attention, he replied that he would do so on Sunday after his scheduled appearance on NBC's Meet the Press.
According to Axios, Graham joked: "I can't die now. I still have to pass the sanctions against Russia, solve Iran, and achieve normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia."
He died hours later, with his office describing it as a "brief and sudden illness."
Rumors of Possible Poisoning Gain Momentum
The combination of events - the Kiev trip, the sanctions announcement, the sudden death, and Graham's history with Russia - fueled speculation among political figures and on social media.
Anti-corruption activist Bill Browder, known for his involvement in the Magnitsky Act, was among the most vocal: "The Russians are experts in administering poisons that mimic heart attacks. All tests must be conducted immediately to rule out foul play. I've seen enough suspicious deaths related to Russia to know this is the only course of action," he wrote on X.
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn publicly called for the release of the toxicology report. "Given where he was and the issues he was championing, I think we just need to resolve all those questions by seeing what the toxicology reports show," he stated on Monday, July 14.
Investigation and Official Cause of Death
The District of Columbia Medical Examiner's Office preliminarily determined that Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition that can be fatal within minutes if untreated.
However, the death certificate remains "pending." "The death certificate will remain PENDING until all toxicological and microscopic tests are completed," the medical examiner's office specified, as cited by The Hill.
On Sunday, July 13, FBI director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau was "assisting local authorities," without providing further details on the extent of their involvement.
Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide until Saturday, July 18, in honor of the senator, whom he described as "a dear friend of mine and a truly exceptional man."
Definitive toxicology results will be crucial in either closing or further igniting one of Washington's most intense political controversies of the year.
Questions Surrounding Lindsey Graham's Death
What did Trump say about the possibility of Graham being poisoned?
Trump dismissed the idea of Russian poisoning, citing Graham's "deeply rooted health issues" as the cause of death.
Why are there speculations about Graham's death?
Speculations arose due to Graham's recent trip to Kiev, his announcements regarding sanctions against Russia, his sudden death, and his adversarial history with Russia.
What was the preliminary cause of death?
The preliminary cause of death was an aortic dissection due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.