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Graham Dies at 71
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican, died at 71 after a “brief and sudden illness,” according to a statement from his office.
The Arab Weekly said Graham died late on Saturday from a heart ailment caused by hardening of the arteries, and it reported that his office said a preliminary finding from the medical examiner of the District of Columbia listed the cause of death as an “aortic dissection.”
NPR reported that preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner showed the cause of death as aortic dissection due to a type of heart disease, and it quoted Trump’s remembrance on Truth Social: “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!”
The Arab Weekly also said Trump ordered flags to be lowered to half-mast in Graham’s honour until the night of Saturday, July 18, and it noted the Senate was scheduled to return on Monday from its July 4 break.
Tributes and Senate Math
In Washington, Trump told Reuters he spoke to Graham “minutes” before the South Carolina Republican was taken ill, and he ruled out any foul play while saying, “There are these rumours. But, no, I believe he had a very short-term illness.”
The Arab Weekly said the contest to succeed Graham in reliably Republican South Carolina would not impact the broader fight for control of the Senate between Republicans and Democrats in the November midterm elections, but it said his death robs Trump of a dependable Senate vote as the president seeks to push his agenda.
NPR reported that Senate Majority Leader John Thune called Graham “a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe,” and it said Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization further narrowed the margins for Thune to pass legislation and confirm nominees.
The Arab Weekly added that South Carolina’s Republican Governor Henry McMaster can immediately appoint a temporary replacement to fill the seat for the remainder of Graham’s term, which ends in early January, and it said Republicans would compete in a special party primary election on August 11 with a runoff set for August 25 if no candidate wins a majority.
Foreign Policy Legacy at Stake
Graham’s death triggered tributes that reflected his foreign-policy focus, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying, “I have lost a beloved friend,” and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy describing him as “a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.”
“WASHINGTON -- NATO allies, Ukraine and Israel paid tribute to U”
ABC7 Chicago reported that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Graham was “a powerful advocate for America who believed strongly in the NATO Alliance,” while Estonia’s Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said “Estonia will remember him as a steadfast friend, a strong supporter of NATO's eastern flank, and an unwavering advocate for Ukraine.”
The Arab Weekly said Graham’s death could strengthen momentum to pass a bill that would increase sanctions on Russia, quoting Representative Michael McCaul: “The best way we can honor Lindsey is to pass his bill,” and it said the initiative had won the White House’s endorsement last week.
In the same reporting, the Arab Weekly said Graham died less than two days before the Senate is scheduled to return on Monday from its July 4 break, when Republicans hoped to advance key legislation on defense and national security matters and to confirm Trump nominees including Todd Blanche as attorney general.
