President Donald Trump revealed that he spoke by phone with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham just hours before his sudden death. Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine. Trump described him as tired but otherwise fine, and said they had even discussed meeting later that day.
Graham, a prominent senator from South Carolina and a leading foreign policy hawk, died after returning from what Trump said was his tenth visit to Ukraine. His office attributed the death to a short and sudden illness. Emergency services were called to his home following initial reports of cardiac arrest.
Trump shared the details in interviews with CNN and NBC, visibly shaken by the loss of one of his closest allies. He said Graham called him early in the evening, just after arriving back from Kyiv. Medical teams arrived shortly afterward, and Trump learned of the death during the night.
A phone call hours before death
Trump recounted that in their final conversation, Graham was pushing for his signature legislation, the Save America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. – He called and said: „Everything is ready on Save America Act” (…) I said: „We’ll get it done, Lindsey. See you soon.” We thought maybe we’d even meet today – and that was it – Trump said.
The president repeatedly called Graham a tough guy and a natural politician who could get along with anyone. – If I had a really big problem with some Democrat, he could handle it. That’s something most Republicans can’t do – Trump told NBC.
Differences over Ukraine and a long friendship
Trump acknowledged they differed on the war in Ukraine, from which Graham had just returned. – We differed a little (…) I wanted the war in Ukraine to end very quickly. I think he was more for keeping it going. Frankly, he was very, very hawkish on this – Trump said in the CNN interview. – I operated on the assumption that 25,000 people die every month. I didn’t like that – he added, noting that both were strong on the military but used it differently.
Trump recalled meeting Graham a decade ago when both sought the Republican presidential nomination. – It was a nasty campaign. He was tough and mean, but I was mean too, and it ended well – he said. Over time, the former rivals became friends, with Graham emerging as one of Trump’s most loyal supporters.
Trump called Graham’s emotional defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the 2018 Senate hearings the senator’s greatest moment. He described it as one of the classic moments in Senate history that turned the tide of the entire confirmation process.
Źródło: Polsat News, Fot. Polsat News
