Lindsey Graham dies suddenly at 71: Tributes pour in
FOX Business reports on the tragic death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham at 71 after a sudden illness. Preliminary findings from the D.C. medical examiner indicate an aortic tear due to cardiovascular disease. The Republican leader, known for his fierce foreign policy work and commitment to defending freedom, had just returned from Ukraine.
A California registered nurse is facing backlash after social media posts circulating online appeared to express a wish that President Donald Trump and late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would die, prompting questions about whether his employer is reviewing the matter.
The Instagram story, posted by Robert Acuna-Bagshaw, who identifies himself on his LinkedIn page as a registered nurse at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Memorial Children's Hospital since January 2016, appears to show a collage of three public figures, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., President Donald Trump and Graham.
McConnell is on the left, with a skull power-plug emoji beneath his photo and flashing text that says, "Pull the plug." Trump is in the center, with a countdown beneath his photo, and Graham is on the right, with a gray tombstone graphic reading "R.I.P." over his image.
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Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., talks with reporters in the U.S. Capitol during votes on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
At the bottom of the story, blue text reads, "If all 3 of these f---ers die this week, I might become religious again."
Near the top of the story is an orange cross graphic, and the Instagram account name visible appears to be "lb_buddha," with Acuna-Bagshaw’s name also appearing on the account profile.
Graham, 71, passed away at 10:23 p.m. Saturday. An autopsy was done on Sunday suggesting that Graham passed away from aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
A U.S. flag flies at half-staff over the Capitol on July 12, 2026, after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Emergency dispatch audio reviewed by Fox News Digital documents the emergency response before his office announced his death. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
A statement from Graham’s office read, "The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death."
McConnell, who has been hospitalized for almost a month, said in a statement Sunday that he has been recovering from a fall.
"My doctors have confirmed that I didn’t break any bones or suffer a concussion," McConnell said. "I didn’t have a heart attack or a stroke. I don’t have any tumors or hemorrhages."
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Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., revealed that a fall, spurred by his childhood bouts with polio, led to his hospitalization. But, he gave no clear timeline on his return to the Senate. (Courtesy of Sen. Mitch McConnell's office/Reuters)
In a later Instagram story posted on Monday that included screenshots of various accounts, Acuna-Bagshaw wrote, "What’s funny is that MAGA morons are messaging me on all my socials, threatening my life, calling my work trying to get me fired, looking up my address and insinuating attacks to the property owners of the listed address etc. because I’ve reposted memes, all the while not realizing all of their internet activity, which they can’t delete, is being tracked. When one of the morons actually does something, because that’s what MAGA does, they’ll all be suspects."
Acuna-Bagshaw added, "If you’re new just yesterday and I don’t know you, expect a call. I’m fortunate enough to have made a life with friends in positions that specialize in these situations. It’s sad that MAGA are like this and personally attack people to shut them up when nothing was done to them. I guess they missed that part in the Bible about false prophets."
"What’s funny is they attack me for being a nurse & assume I’m as racist and bigoted as they are," he added. "They’re exactly what’s wrong with this world. Attacking and insinuating about people they know nothing about. Oh, this is just a few I stitched together for this post. I have you all. . . ."
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Fox News Digital reached out to Long Beach Medical Center, Acuna-Bagshaw, McConnell, and the White House for comment but did not immediately receive responses.
