The President addressed the recent passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Oval Office, stating that his heart condition was "almost undetectable." He was responding to a question about the FBI reportedly being seen at Graham's home, with the bureau assisting local authorities in the death probe.
Trump explained that he had reviewed the medical reports and met with White House doctors to understand the circumstances surrounding Graham's death. "I've watched all the medical reports, I've had the doctors from the White House come in and explain what happened. And this is something that is almost undetectable and if it happens, there's not much you can do about it," he said.
Trump also drew attention to Graham's occasional complaints about having a "bad back," which he suggested could be a sign of the underlying condition. "You can detect it by if you have a very bad back. That's a sign," Trump said, implying that Graham's back issues may have been indicative of his aortic dissection.
The President expressed skepticism about the FBI's involvement in the investigation, stating that he believed they were "wasting their time." He also downplayed the notion of conspiracy theories surrounding Graham's death, saying that he did not see "a lot of evil" in the circumstances.
Graham died on Saturday night in Washington, D.C., just one day after returning from Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss a new package of sanctions against Russia. The official cause of death remains pending additional testing, although preliminary findings indicate that it was an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Trump also mentioned that Graham's father died of the same condition, which is reportedly different from an aortic dissection. However, it is worth noting that Graham's father actually died of a massive heart attack in 2015, according to previous reports.
An aortic dissection is a life-threatening medical emergency in which a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body's largest artery. Medical experts have confirmed that it can be difficult to recognize and may occur suddenly, with little time for medical intervention.
Cardiothoracic surgeons have explained that an aortic dissection can be caused by high blood pressure or hardening of the arteries, which increases the risk of tearing. In the case of Sen. Graham, his age and underlying medical conditions may have contributed to the development of an aortic dissection.
Graham's sister, Darline Graham, has been chosen to serve out the rest of his term in the Senate, which ends on January 3, 2027. She is scheduled to be sworn in on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
