Sunday, July 12, 2026

Trump Says He Has Preferred Successor in Mind for Lindsey Graham’s Senate Seat, Won’t Name Candidate Yet

by davidt76
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Credit: The White House

President Donald Trump said Sunday that he already has a preferred candidate in mind to succeed the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), but declined to reveal the name, saying it was too soon following the senator’s death.

As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, Senator Graham, 71, passed away Saturday night, July 11, 2026, following a cardiac arrest.

Audio of the 911 dispatch call reveals Lindsey Graham had chest pains before going into cardiac arrest.

According to Senator Lindsey Graham’s office, preliminary findings from the Washington, D.C., medical examiner indicate that Graham died from an aortic dissection, a condition in which a tear develops in the inner layer of the body’s main artery, the aorta.

The office said the dissection was caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition in which plaque buildup narrows and hardens the arteries, restricting blood flow.

Lindsey Graham recently returned from a trip to Kiev, Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian President Zelensky.

Speaking during an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Trump said that he has a preferred candidate in mind to succeed the late Graham but declined to reveal the person’s identity, saying it was too soon after Graham’s death to discuss potential replacements.

“I have somebody that I think would be great, but I don’t want to say it now because it’s just, you know, it’s too soon with Lindsey,” Trump said. “I don’t want to even talk about anybody, but I do have somebody that I think is really good.”

Under South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to appoint an interim replacement to serve until a special election is held to fill the remainder of Graham’s term.

The post Trump Says He Has Preferred Successor in Mind for Lindsey Graham’s Senate Seat, Won’t Name Candidate Yet appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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