Former President Donald Trump described the final telephone conversation he had with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) before Graham died on Saturday [2].
The disclosure highlights the personal relationship between the former president and one of his most prominent legislative allies during a period of sudden loss for the Republican party.
Graham died on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at age 71 [1, 2]. Trump shared his recollections of the event on July 12, describing Graham as a friend [3].
Trump said the conversation took place on the night of July 11, shortly before Graham died in his home state of South Carolina [1, 4]. During the call, Trump said Graham mentioned he had just landed [5].
Reports regarding the exact timing of the call vary. Some accounts describe the conversation as occurring hours before the senator died [4]. Other reports state the call took place about one hour before the 911 dispatch that reported Graham's death [5].
"He was a friend," Trump said [3].
The sudden death of the 71-year-old senator marks the end of a long tenure in South Carolina politics and a close partnership with the former president [1].
“"He was a friend."”
The public recollection of this final call emphasizes the tight-knit bond between Trump and Graham, signaling that their relationship extended beyond political utility into a personal friendship. The sudden vacancy of Graham's seat in South Carolina may trigger a shift in the state's political landscape and the broader Republican strategy in the Senate.
