Sen. Lindsey Graham, 71, died of aortic dissection, heart disease, medical examiner reports

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the oldest and longest-serving senator, gave a floor speech Monday honoring Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., praising his sense of humor.

“Senator Graham loved to tell people how frugal I was, and if I were ever to open my billfold, dust and moss would come out of it,” Grassley said. “I don't know how many times I've heard that. Senator Graham always brought a smile to your face and levity to the halls of Congress.”

Grassley, 92, said Graham will be remembered for his many accomplishments for the Republican Party.

“Senator Graham deeply loved his country. He was a bold leader and impassioned national security hawk,” said Grassley. “He spoke his mind, as we all know, and we all know that he had the capability and the desire to work across the aisle. He was at the center of some of the most famous dealmaking groups in the past 30 years.”

“He loved the Senate as an institution, and his hardworking staff was like family to him. Most importantly, he dutifully served the people of South Carolina, and his roots ran deep every day of his life,” he added.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said his Republican colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will be missed following his sudden death.

“I don't think you can replace the irreplaceable. And he's going to be deeply missed,” Daines said Monday.

Daines said he would speak with Graham frequently, noting that Graham was a champion of a bill moving through Congress that would target third-party nations buying Russian energy with sanctions.

“There's at least pass this sanctions bill, frankly, in honor of Lindsey,” Daines said.

Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., also remarked on Graham's passing over the weekend.

“I think for the country, he was just always a steadfast, pro-American voice who believed that we should support our allies and confront our adversaries and was not shy about doing that," Díaz-Balart said. "And so I will miss him a lot.”

“He was always on the side of the United States, of the American people, of the taxpayer and of our allies,” he added.

Stephen Miller, a policy advisor for the White House, paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Monday afternoon, calling him a personal "friend."

"Lindsey was of a mold that I don’t think we’re going to see for a very long time," Miller said. "He was someone who really understood how the power of rhetoric, how the power of communication as a senator can actually change outcomes."

"Lindsey really believed you could change people’s minds through the force and persuasion of his rhetoric."

Miller, like many members of the Trump administration, continues to reel from Graham’s sudden death late on Saturday evening, paying homage to a key ally in the Senate. His remarks reveal a closer relationship between the two than has previously been reported.

"Lindsey, I miss you, Godspeed and I’ll see you on the other side," Miller said.

While Graham and President Donald Trump had an up-and-down relationship before and after Trump’s first term, Graham was also a close friend to the president and highly influential on domestic and foreign policy. Graham consistently urged the U.S. to assume a leadership role in the international community, arguing the world was safer and more stable with American engagement.

"Lindsey was the most effective, consistent advocate for the president’s agenda in the Senate," Miller said. "That is a historical legacy that will always belong to him."

Miller added a few other details about their relationship, expressing gratitude for Graham’s readiness to work with the administration.

This post is an excerpt from an article by Leo Briceno and Peter D'Abrosca.

The younger sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham will be sworn into the Senate on Tuesday to serve the remainder of his term.

Darline Graham Nordone will take her oath at around 2:30 p.m. ET, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told Fox News.

Nordone was appointed to fill Graham's seat on Monday, following his passing over the weekend.

President Donald Trump called Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a “great politician,” saying “it's hard to believe he's gone.”

Trump said he spoke with Graham before he passed away over the weekend, noting that the late lawmaker was a “little tired” but “felt fine.”

“And then this whole thing happened, and it's... Boy, it's tough,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

“He was a fantastic man. He was actually a great politician," Trump added. "He got along with almost everybody. And when he didn't get along, they knew it.”

“He was a fantastic man. He was actually a great politician," Trump added. "He got along with almost everybody. And when he didn't get along, they knew it.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday pledged to work with the sister of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who was appointed Monday to serve the remaining months of her brother's term.

Darline Graham Nordone was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to serve the rest of Graham's term before a new candidate is elected to fill the seat.

"As a South Carolina native, I can think of no more fitting tribute to Lindsey Graham's legacy of service to our state and our nation than seeing his beloved sister carry it forward," Bessent wrote on X.

"Darline has always been at her brother’s side and I know she will be an outstanding interim Senator," he added. "The U.S. Treasury will do everything possible to support her and her staff as they work on the President’s agenda and continue to provide strong constituent services for the great people of South Carolina."

Meanwhile, Sen. Katie Boyd Britt, R-Ala., said no one was more fitting than Nordone to finish her brother's term.

"I stand ready to welcome Darline to the Senate and work alongside her to continue the work of my dear friend," Britt wrote. "There is no doubt that Lindsey will be smiling down from above as she is sworn in to fight for the state and nation to which he dedicated his life and held his unwavering commitment."

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he counted Lindsey Graham as a trusted friend, even when others questioned his association with the Republican lawmaker.

“My friends and supporters back in Illinois, many times just shook their head and said, ‘Durbin, what are you doing with Lindsey? You shouldn't be working with him,’” Durbin said Monday on the Senate floor. “They didn't know how the Senate works, and they certainly didn't know him.”

He noted that Graham was an early supporter of the Dream Act, legislation to protect undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.

“His support took guts at a time when issues surrounding immigration were becoming politically toxic,” Durbin said. “Lindsey stuck his neck out. For me and for these young people, I will never, ever forget it.”

“I knew that his word was always good,” he added. “If he told me he was going to vote for something or some person, he did. He delivered. And we had a good working relationship between us. No cheap shots, no stabs in the back.”

In the Senate, there’s a black veil covering a desk. On top there’s a bowl of striking white roses. That’s where Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., used to sit.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pointed to that desk during an emotional tribute to the late Senator on Monday. Graham was a confidant, trusted advisor and friend to Thune. And through tears, he set about remembering the lawmaker who spent 30 years in Washington, D.C., making a mark on his state and country.

"It's difficult to believe that Lindsey Graham is no longer here with us," Thune said. "That we won't run into him at a meeting today or share a joke with him at this afternoon's vote. The halls of the Senate already feel empty without him. And I know I'm not alone in that feeling."

As Thune spoke about Graham, the late lawmaker’s staff sat in the Senate chamber as tears filled the room. And since Thune became the leader of the Senate GOP, you would oftentime see Graham enter his office just off the Senate floor.

He was there to talk down Republican rebels who threatened to sink President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill," and once earlier this year stormed into Thune’s office declaring his resistance to a deal struck by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the president to avert a government shutdown.

But he was there, and Thune noted that "Lindsey was fearless in his commitment to the causes that he espoused."

This post is an excerpt from an article by Alex Miller.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster named the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to serve out the remainder of his term.

In a news conference, McMaster named Darline Graham Nordone to replace her older brother in the U.S. Senate.

“It's my honor to ask his little sister, Darline Graham, to finish his work for him now,” the governor said.

“It is such an honor. Lindsey has always been there for me and now I will be there for him,” Nordone said. “My brother was the most amazing person, an outstanding leader, and just a genuinely good man.”

“It is such a privilege to get to finish some of his important work, and I promise to work hard over the next several months to support the president and carry forward the efforts of my brother on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina and the United States,” she added.

Nordone said Graham would have wanted her to finish his work and to support President Donald Trump's agenda.

“I know Lindsey thought the world of his staff and colleagues, and with their support, I feel confident,” she said. “I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way. Now to Lindsey: I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I'm going to do this—I got it.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., remembered the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as a passionate lawmaker, saying he couldn't imagine a world without his colorful colleague.

Appearing on “America's Newsroom,” Thune remembered his fellow Republican as an institutional giant in the Senate.

“There was nobody, nobody on the other side of the aisle, on the Democrat side, if they needed to get something done, there was no better person to work with than Lindsey Graham,” he said. “It is going to be very, very hard to envision the United States Senate, our country, certainly South Carolina, or for that matter, the world without Lindsey,” he added.

Thune remembered Graham as a very good friend who had spent time with him in South Dakota over the nearly 30 years they had known each other.

“I'm for sure sitting with him out in South Dakota looking over Lake Oahe and watching the stars,” Thune said of one of his fondest memories with Graham. “It's a beautiful memory.”

“We've been to just a lot of places together through the years, but more important than all of that is just the impact he's had on this country and the voice that he has been on so many issues that are critical to America's national security interests and to protecting the American people,” added Thune.

Senate Chaplain Barry Black honored the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Monday with a prayer in which he thanked the lawmaker for his public service.

“As flags fly at half-staff throughout our nation to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, we give thanks to you for his life and for his years of public service,” Black said. “Lord, we remember with gratitude his commitment to the responsibilities entrusted to him and the many ways he sought to serve the people of this country. Give comfort, strength, and peace to his family, friends, colleagues, and all who mourn his passing.”

Black also urged everyone to remember Graham's passing as a moment to value service over self-interest, “compassion over division, and hope over despair.”

“Oh Lord, support us all the day long until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the world is hushed. And the fever of life is over,” he said.

Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, has emerged as President Donald Trump’s preferred pick to temporarily fill the South Carolina Republican’s Senate seat in a cartaker role.

Trump urged South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to appoint Nordone as a caretaker, calling it a “fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly.”

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has also been speaking with Nordone about the role, sources told Fox News.

Nordone has never held public office, but shared a uniquely close bond with Graham after their parents died when he was in his early 20s and she was 13. Graham became her legal guardian and helped raise her while building a career that took him from the Air Force to Congress.

McMaster is expected to announce his appointment 4 p.m. ET on Monday afternoon as Republicans prepare for a fast-moving special election process to decide who will seek the seat long term.

Fox News' Alex Miller, Adam Pack and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Most people leave politics enriched in their bank accounts. Instead, late Sen. Lindsey Graham left the world enriched by his presence.

Despite spending more than three decades in Congress, Graham left behind comparatively modest wealth for a longtime Washington figure, according to a Fox News Digital review of financial disclosures.

The South Carolina Republican’s May filings estimated his net worth at about $1.4 million, with a lower-end estimate just above $600,000 and an upper estimate a little over $2.2 million.

Graham’s assets were held largely in mutual funds and government bonds, keeping him away from the stock-trading controversies that have followed some members of Congress.

Graham had a long rise from humble roots in South Carolina, where he helped run his family’s restaurant, later becoming an Air Force veteran and being the first in his family to attend college.

Graham died Saturday at 71.

Fox News' Robert Schmad contributed to this report.

Former Vice President Mike Pence paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, calling the South Carolina Republican an “American patriot” and a “matchless voice for freedom.”

Appearing on “The Faulkner Focus,” Pence remembered Graham as a committed conservative who had a clear view of America’s allies and adversaries.

Pence pointed to Graham’s work on border security, his support for a strong U.S. military and his unwavering stance against Russian aggression in Ukraine.

He also highlighted Graham’s role in the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, calling it one of the major legislative fights that defined Graham’s career.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has endorsed President Donald Trump's recommendation to be Sen. Lindsey Graham's successor.

"Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, would be a fantastic pick to serve out the reminder of the senate term," Scott wrote Monday on X, sharing Trump's Truth Social announcement.

"After speaking with Darline, there is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state, and our country."

South Carolina Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has announced a 4 p.m. news conference to announce the selection to serve out the remainder of Graham's term until January.

A summer primary and November election will determine the holder of the seat for the following six years.

Scott has spoken multiple times with Darline over the last 24 hours, sources told Fox News Digital, and will join her for 4 p.m. ET announcement in Columbia, South Carolina.

She expected to be sworn into the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.

Fox News' Paul Steinhauser and Alex Miller contributed to this report.

First lady Melania Trump mourned the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, posting a touching tribute on X.

"I am saddened by the unexpected passing of Senator Graham," she wrote. "Lindsey devoted his life to the service of our nation, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to his duties.

"My deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and all those whose lives were touched by his enduring legacy.”

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., reflected on the legacy of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, praising his long career and deep commitment to public service.

Appearing on Fox News, Lankford highlighted Graham’s work on foreign policy and Middle East peace efforts, saying Graham brought passion and persistence to some of the toughest issues facing the country.

He also remembered Graham’s blunt, candid style, which made him one of the Senate’s most recognizable and outspoken voices.

Lankford said Graham’s impact will be felt well beyond Washington as lawmakers continue to honor his service to South Carolina and the nation.

"Nobody" can fill the void left behind by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., according to Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

"He will be missed," Cruz said on his podcast Monday. "He left a legacy that was extraordinary, and I will say whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him, Lindsey loved this country, and he devoted every waking moment of his life to fighting for this country.

"That was his mission, and I admired that. I admired that it was real. It was genuine, and he made a profound difference."

Cruz worked most closely with Graham on Iran, calling him an “incredible ally” in pushing President Donald Trump to take a hard line against Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

“The president has said repeatedly, Iran will never get a nuclear weapon," Cruz said. "There will be zero enrichment, and Lindsey was an incredible ally that I was fighting alongside. And the president listened to us, which is part of why we've seen the president's incredible strong leadership taking out Iran's military capacity and stopping them from getting nuclear weapons that was one of the most important legacies Lindsey ever had.”

He also praised Graham’s energy, patriotism and commitment to public service, saying the late senator “devoted every waking moment of his life to fighting for this country.”

“Lindsey Graham made an enormous difference for our country,” Cruz said.