Trump names Graham's Kavanaugh stand his 'finest moment' following senator's sudden death at 71
The death of Sen. Lindsey Graham at 71 after a "brief and sudden illness" Saturday drew an immediate public tribute from President Donald Trump, who named Graham's 2018 floor performance during Brett Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation hearing as the South Carolina Republican's defining act in public life. Speaking by phone Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" with host Jake Tapper, Trump called the moment a top-five event in Senate history and said it should be replayed.
Key takeaways
- Sen. Lindsey Graham died at 71 on Saturday after a 'brief and sudden illness,' his office announced that evening without disclosing details.
- President Donald Trump named Graham's 2018 floor performance during Brett Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation hearing as the South Carolina Republican's defining public act.
- Speaking Sunday on CNN's 'State of the Union' with Jake Tapper, Trump ranked the Kavanaugh moment among the top five in Senate history and said it should be replayed.
- At the September 2018 hearing, Graham accused Democratic panel members of trying to destroy Kavanaugh's life and hold the seat open through 2020, calling the proceedings 'the most unethical sham' of his political career.
- Graham called Trump on Saturday night after returning from a trip to Ukraine, a conversation Trump believes may have been one of the senator's last.
The death of Sen. Lindsey Graham at 71 after a "brief and sudden illness" Saturday drew an immediate public tribute from President Donald Trump, who named Graham's 2018 floor performance during Brett Kavanaugh's Senate confirmation hearing as the South Carolina Republican's defining act in public life. Speaking by phone Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" with host Jake Tapper, Trump called the moment a top-five event in Senate history and said it should be replayed.
The Kavanaugh hearing, September 2018
The Senate Judiciary Committee proceeding that month became a sharp national divide. Christine Blasey Ford testified that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers. Kavanaugh denied the allegation. When Graham's questioning time came, he directed his remarks at the Democratic members of the panel, accusing them of trying to destroy a nominee's life and hold the Supreme Court seat open through the 2020 election cycle. "What you want to do is destroy this guy's life, hold this seat open and hope you win in 2020," Graham said on the record. He called the proceedings "the most unethical sham since I've been in politics" and noted for contrast that he had voted to confirm Justices Sotomayor and Kagan. The Senate confirmed Kavanaugh 50-48 on Oct. 6, 2018; he remains an associate justice.
Trump's read on Graham's Senate role
Trump told Tapper the speech came "from the heart" and shifted the confirmation's trajectory. "It turned that whole thing around. He was really amazing," Trump said, ranking the exchange among the top five moments in the chamber's history. The tribute extended beyond the hearing. Trump described Graham as a Senate operator capable of resolving disputes with Democrats that most Republicans in the caucus could not. "If I had a really big problem with a certain Democrat, he could work it out," Trump said. "That's something most Republicans can't do."
Graham's final hours
Graham called Trump on Saturday night after returning from a trip to Ukraine, a conversation Trump now regards as potentially one of the senator's last. Trump described Graham as tired from the journey but otherwise in good form. "He was full of vim and vigor," Trump said. His office announced his death that Saturday evening without disclosing details about the illness. He was 71.
Filed by the newsroom of MarketPR on July 12, 2026. Source: foxnews.com. Indicative figures are not investment advice.