President Donald Trump said he spoke with Sen. Lindsey Graham shortly before his death, recounting that Graham told him he was 'a bit tired' and then the hard news arrived. The remark adds a new detail to Trump's earlier account of the conversation.
President Donald Trump on Sunday evening released a new written statement adding that Sen. Lindsey Graham told him he was 'a bit tired' before his death. The remark follows a series of Trump statements throughout the day: at 10:24 Jerusalem he mourned Graham as 'a true American patriot'; during an NBC interview (also first reported at 10:24) he revealed he spoke with Graham hours before his death, describing him as 'tired but fine,' saying the death was 'a quick end, maybe not the worst way to die,' and calling Graham 'like family.' The new statement, posted around 17:00 Sunday, is the first to include the detail that Graham explicitly said he was tired.
The thread began at 10:24 Jerusalem, when Trump's initial eulogy was reported. Within minutes, multiple versions from the same NBC interview emerged, all dated 10:24 Jerusalem: first a summary, then a more detailed account, and then a third version consolidating the quotes. At 10:49 Jerusalem, i24NEWS reported that the cause of death was cardiac arrest, cited by The Zioneer as a background item. At 14:59 Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned Graham as 'a true friend and ally.' The Zioneer's initial wire dispatch at 16:55 Jerusalem collected the NBC remarks. The new statement is the first to quote Graham's own words in the final exchange.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Sunday, the 71-year-old senator was a decades-long pro-Israel ally. Israeli leaders including Netanyahu have issued statements of condolence. The cause of death — cardiac arrest — has been cited by i24NEWS (10:49 Jerusalem) and remains the leading reported cause.
What remains open: The new Trump statement does not reveal further medical detail or contradict the cardiac arrest report, but it is not an authoritative medical confirmation — it adds personal texture to Graham's final known words.
5 developments
- DevelopingTrump warns Graham over Iran deal skepticism
- DevelopingTrump says he has 'lost it,' patience 'over,' calls for talks: 'let's eat the hat'
- DevelopingNetanyahu: Graham argued to keep US aid flowing even as I offered to cover defense costs
- DevelopingTrump reportedly shouted at Netanyahu ahead of hostage deal — 'Everyone is tired of you, Bibi'
Source and signal
- Internal intake