Washington Post: Trump Reflecting on His Own Mortality After Lindsey Graham’s Death

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly begun reflecting on his own mortality following the sudden death of his close friend and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, according to The Washington Post.

The report said Trump, 80, has spoken publicly and in private about how Graham’s unexpected death on July 11 deeply affected him. People close to the president said the loss of a longtime ally who was nearly a decade younger had left Trump shaken and prompted him to think more about aging and mortality.

Speaking on NBC News’ Meet the Press on July 12, Trump said he was still struggling to come to terms with Graham’s death.

“I just said, ‘I still can’t believe it,’” Trump recalled while describing his reaction after learning of the senator’s passing.

In a separate interview on Fox News’ Fox & Friends on July 13, Trump described Graham as a “workaholic,” adding, “He never stopped.”

Trump attended Graham’s funeral on Tuesday and later paid tribute to the late South Carolina senator at Washington National Cathedral.

According to a preliminary medical examiner’s report, Graham died after suffering an aortic dissection caused by underlying arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. He passed away shortly after returning to the United States from a visit to Ukraine.

Trump said he had spoken with Graham by phone just hours before his death.

“He called me the night before and said everything was ready for the Save America Act,” Trump told NBC News. “He sounded a little tired, but otherwise seemed fine.”

In several interviews, Trump praised Graham’s work ethic and said the senator’s sudden death was especially difficult to comprehend because of his energy and constant activity.

“I’m not doing well,” Trump said during his Fox & Friends interview. “He was a great man. He was my friend. He called me all the time. I used to joke, ‘Lindsey, don’t call me so much.’ He really was an extraordinary person.”

“He lived for his work,” the president added.

According to The Washington Post, people close to Trump also describe him as a workaholic, and Graham’s death has led the president to reassess his own life and legacy.

In an interview with Newsmax on July 13, Trump also said he still watches video footage of the assassination attempt against him during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024, describing his survival as “a miracle.”