Published Jul 13, 2026, 11:51 AM EDT
Graham, who had been a senator from South Carolina since 2002, died on Saturday at age 71.
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. to fly flags at half-staff after the death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham. Trump took to Truth Social to praise Graham, a South Carolina Republican senator since 2002 and one of Trump's allies, as "a truly great man." He said "all American flags" in the country should take the measure until Saturday evening at 6 p.m. to honor the politician, who reportedly died from a cardiac arrest on Saturday. "In honor of the remarkable life and achievements of Senator Lindsey Graham, a dear friend of mine, and a truly great man, who achieved so much for our Country, and his beloved Home State of South Carolina, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Saturday evening at 6 P.M," Trump wrote. "GOD BLESS YOU LINDSEY! President DONALD J. TRUMP."
President Donald J. Trump gives remarks at Salute to America on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., July 4, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Primavera)
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who called Graham "irreplaceable" in a statement, also ordered flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff. Dr. Francisco Diaz, the chief medical examiner for DC said in a statement that Graham's death certificate would be pending until "all the toxicological and microscopic testing" was finalized. Graham, aged 71, died on Saturday from "aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease," his office announced on Sunday. His office had initially announced his death on social media late Saturday night, saying that Graham had "a brief and sudden illness." Media reports then revealed that emergency medical services attended to his home on Capitol Hill and administered CPR.
