The sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham has sent shockwaves through the American political establishment. Just hours before his passing, Graham contacted U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss key domestic policy issues and impressions from a recent trip to Ukraine. Details of this conversation, which turned out to be the senator's last, were revealed by the President himself in an interview with NBC News' Meet the Press.
Discussion on the 'Save America Act'
According to Donald Trump, the call came on Saturday evening. Despite his exhaustion, the Senator showed determination regarding the passage of a bill that Graham called the 'Save America Act'. The initiative aims to change the election process, but currently lacks sufficient support in the Senate for approval.
Trump quotes Graham's words: 'He really said he was tired, but he wants to pass the Save America Act.' In response, the President promised support: 'Well, we will do it, Lindsey. We will do it. See you soon.' The two planned to meet on Sunday to continue the discussion, but fate had other plans.
Impressions of the Visit to Kyiv
In a separate interview with CNN, Trump shared information that Graham also told him about his trip to Ukraine. The Senator described the visit as successful, noting that he 'had a great time'. On Friday, the day before his death, Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
During the visit, the Senator not only discussed political issues but also visited the SkyFall Ukrainian drone production facility, highly praising domestic technologies. In Kyiv, he also made a series of statements about a new package of tough sanctions against Russia, coordinated with the White House, and urged Trump to take a hard line on Iran.
Personal Assessment of the Politician
Commenting on his colleague's passing, Trump called Graham a man with a 'unique ability' to find common ground with Democrats. 'If I had a problem with a Democrat, he could solve it. He was a great, actually a great politician,' the President noted. At the same time, he admitted that Graham could be an 'inconvenient choice' and showed toughness if he believed he was right.
The relationship between the politicians was close: Trump recalls them as 'family members' who regularly talked on the phone and played golf. Noting the suddenness of the event, the President added: 'Maybe it's not the worst option.'
Circumstances of Death
Lindsey Graham died on the evening of July 11 at the age of 71. Doctors and police arrived at his home on Capitol Hill after a call regarding cardiac arrest. Trump confirmed that apart from exhaustion, Graham felt fine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the Senator's death 'deeply saddening news', emphasizing the importance of his role in supporting Ukraine.
