MEDICAL EXAMINER REVEALS ANNOUNCES GRAHAM'S CAUSE OF DEATH BUT THERE'S A TWIST -
Medical Examiner Identifies Lindsey Graham’s Cause of Death
The political world was shocked and saddened after learning early Sunday morning that South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham had passed away after a “brief sudden illness.”
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” a Sunday statement from Graham’s office said shortly after his passing.
Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” it added.
Now, less than 24 hours later, the medical examiner’s office in Washington, D.C., has issued a report identifying Graham’s cause of death.
The preliminary findings, released by Graham’s office, found that his death was caused by “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
Aortic dissection is a critical medical emergency involving a tear in the inner wall of the aorta, which is the body’s main artery.
“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the statement added.
Jeffery W. Carroll, the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Francisco J. Diaz, the chief medical examiner for the District of Columbia, confirmed the findings of the preliminary examination in a joint statement.
“Whenever an autopsy is performed in the District of Columbia, the pathologist also orders comprehensive toxicology testing and microcopy both of which take time to complete,” they said.
“As soon as the results are available and the investigation concludes, OCME will communicate with the next of kin and the death certificate will be amended from pending to the cause of death and the classification of the manner of death,” they added.
Emergency Medical Services responded to Graham’s Capitol Hill address at 8:27 p.m. Saturday for someone with “chest pains,” according to audio of the call, via various reports.
The evening of his death, Graham had returned from a trip to Ukraine the day before, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss ongoing support for the fight against Russian aggression.
President Trump issued a heartfelt tribute on Truth Social early Sunday, praising his longtime friend and Senate partner.
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” Trump wrote.
“He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!”
Trump also said that Graham had called him Saturday evening after returning from Ukraine to discuss the passage of the SAVE America Act.
The president said Graham sounded confident the legislation, which Trump has been pushing for, would finally pass in the Senate.
Graham, it turns out, was scheduled to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” with anchor Kristen Welker on Sunday morning, but instead she spoke to Trump via phone.
“President Trump, thank you for joining us, and my condolences to you,” Welker began:
TRUMP: Well, thank you. He’s a tough one to lose. He’s…he was great. He was unique in every way, actually.
WELKER: He was, Mr. President, and I know that we are all just absorbing this news. We are all in shock. Can you tell us, Mr. President, how you received this news and your immediate gut reaction when you heard it?
TRUMP: So what makes it even stranger is that I got a call last night, sometime in, you know, the early evening, maybe in the sevens. And he called, and he said, “We’re all set for the SAVE America Act. He was pushing the SAVE America Act like crazy. He got back — said he just landed from Ukraine. I said, “That’s a long trip to make.”
He said — he sounded a little tired, but perfect, but…a little bit tired — had a right to be. And he was a worker — he was really a worker, but he sounded great actually, but he was…he actually said he was tired.”
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BREAKING:💔Trump Issues Statement Regarding Health of Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell Health Update: Speculation Continues Amid Limited Public Information
Weeks after former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized following a medical emergency at his Washington, D.C. home, questions persist about the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican’s condition and his ability to complete his Senate term, which ends in January 2027.
McConnell was reportedly found unconscious on or around June 14, with initial accounts indicating CPR was administered. His office has released few details since then, describing him as receiving “excellent care,” continuing to improve, and working with staff on Kentucky and Senate matters remotely while in recovery.
Later updates from McConnell’s team clarified that the senator suffered a fall, was briefly unconscious, and was treated for a mild case of pneumonia. He has since moved to a rehabilitation facility to regain strength and stated he does not plan an immediate return to the Senate floor.
Political Reactions and Calls for Transparency
White House: President Trump recently said he had “no idea” about McConnell’s current status and had not spoken with him since the hospitalization.
Kentucky Governor: Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to McConnell requesting a full public update on his health, citing transparency obligations to constituents.
Senate Colleagues: Responses from fellow Republicans have been mixed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said early on that McConnell “sounded good” in a conversation. However, Sen. Mike Lee noted that many members remain uninformed about details.
The limited information has sparked online speculation and criticism, including unverified claims about his condition. McConnell’s office has pushed back against rumors, noting ongoing improvement.
Broader Context
This situation has renewed debate over health transparency for aging lawmakers. McConnell has a history of health challenges, including previous incidents like a concussion in 2023. As of mid-July 2026, he remains absent from the Senate as it resumes work, narrowing the Republican majority’s margin on key committees.
No official timeline for his return has been confirmed, and public frustration continues over the lack of recent visual updates or more detailed medical disclosures.
This remains a developing story. For the most current details, check official statements from Sen. McConnell’s office or major news outlets.
'NATIONAL EMERGENCY' DECLARED, TRUMP SURGES US TROOPS AFTER 'MASS CASUALTIES’
Over 500 Dead In Venezuela As Rescuers Race To Find Quake Victims
Rescuers scramble to reach survivors before the “golden window” to save people closes, as at least 589 people have died in Venezuela’s twin quakes.
The country is mired in a political and financial crisis. The second quake was the strongest in the country in more than a century.
Close to 3,000 people have been wounded, many more are missing, and others remain trapped under tons of rubble.
President Donald Trump has vowed to ramp up help to Venezuela following Thursday’s quake.
“We took over Venezuela in less than one day, and the oil is flowing, and we’re getting along with them great,” Trump said in remarks from the Rose Garden Thursday evening.
“We’re going to, by the way, help them with their big – they had a tremendous earthquake last night. Did you read about massive, massive in Caracas? But we’re going to help them out,” Trump added.
A Marine Corps general flew into Caracas on Thursday to help lead the US military’s earthquake relief effort in Venezuela, where, just six months ago, US special forces launched a deadly raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard is the senior Southern Command official on the ground.
The military said he is to “plan, coordinate, and direct the flow of rescue teams, equipment, and aid into the hardest-hit areas.”
US aircraft are flying search crews and supplies in, while State Department personnel are coordinating the broader response.
Southern Command, which directs US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said it was “surging” forces to the region at the request of the interim government.
Relief teams from around the world are also mobilizing aid, and foreign aid pledges are pouring in.
“We haven’t slept a wink in our efforts to save lives,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday.
Rodríguez also praised the arrival of international assistance and emergency crews, saying, “We have saved dozens of lives.”
More than 100 buildings collapsed in the La Guaira state, the area hardest hit by the double quake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said.
During a broadcast on state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Cabello said Caraballeda and Catia La Mar were the hardest-hit areas in the state and said 11,500 security personnel would be deployed to La Guaira on Friday to “guarantee peace.”
Venezuelan forces deployed to the area hit by Wednesday’s double earthquake are still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble.
In an interview granted to Venezuelan public television (VTV), the Sectoral Vice President of Public Works and Services, Juan José Ramírez, stated that operations are being carried out with different machinery, such as percussion equipment that allows for the controlled breaking of concrete, with the hope of finding and rescuing more people alive.
Ramírez appealed to the public to let specialized civil protection teams do their job.
“Many times, volunteers trying to help can actually make things worse,” the official said.
Ramírez emphasized that the priority is “to save lives,” while efforts are also underway to restore basic services such as water and communications.
The US Treasury Department said Thursday it will permit “all transactions” with Venezuela “related to earthquake relief efforts.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorizes only partial and temporary relief from restrictions from June 26 through October 23.
The general license allows the processing and transfer of funds on behalf of third-country individuals “to or from” Venezuela, as long as they support operations covered by the specific authorization.
Venezuelans are frustrated by the slow pace of the government’s rescue response in the immediate aftermath of the twin quakes that struck on Wednesday.
“People are really frustrated. They are scared because they know that they don’t have a state that will fulfill its role. So they know that nobody is going to go there and help them,” said Venezuelan economist Jorge Jraissati.
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