U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday contradicted preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner when he said the arterial disease identified in Senator Lindsey Graham’s death was unrelated to the fatal aortic dissection.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump initially acknowledged that Graham had suffered from clogged arteries before saying the condition that killed him was “a totally different thing” and “not related to any blockage.”
“At first, I heard it was clogged arteries because he did have clogged arteries,” Trump said. “He had a problem with that. I wish he took better care of himself.”
Trump then said White House doctors had given him a different explanation.
“I’ve had the doctors from the White House come in and explain what happened, and this is something that is very almost undetectable,” he said. “If it happens, there’s not much you can do about it.”
It was unclear whether Trump was drawing a technical distinction based on the briefing he received or directly disputing the preliminary cause of death released by Graham’s office, which said the senator died from “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
That finding directly links Graham’s fatal aortic tear to disease affecting his arteries.
An aortic dissection occurs when the inner wall of the aorta, the body’s main artery, tears and allows blood to force its way between the layers of the vessel wall. The tear can restrict blood flow to major organs or cause the aorta to rupture, leading to rapid internal bleeding and death.
Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease involves the thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity of artery walls. It can be associated with cholesterol deposits, chronic inflammation and high blood pressure, all of which may weaken the aorta and increase the risk of dissection.
The preliminary finding does not say Graham died from a conventional heart attack caused by a fully blocked coronary artery. It says his underlying arterial disease contributed to the weakening and tearing of the aorta.
Trump’s statement that Graham’s death was “not related to any blockage” could refer narrowly to the absence of a conventional blocked-artery heart attack. His broader description of the death as unrelated to Graham’s arterial disease, however, contradicts the medical examiner’s stated conclusion.
Graham, 71, died early on Sunday after emergency services were called to his Washington home following reports of chest pain and cardiac arrest.
He had returned only hours earlier from a visit to Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and discussed air-defence support and proposed sanctions against Russia.
The timing of his death prompted widespread conspiracy theories online, including unsupported claims that Graham had been poisoned or targeted because of his visit to Ukraine.
FBI Director Kash Patel added to the speculation when he said publicly that the bureau was investigating the circumstances surrounding Graham’s death. Federal agents were also seen at the senator’s home.
Trump dismissed the conspiracy theories and suggested the FBI had no reason to investigate.
“There’s all sorts of conspiracy theories going along,” Trump said. “I think the FBI is wasting their time if they’re doing that.”
No evidence of poisoning, physical attack or other foul play has been made public.
The medical examiner has not completed the final autopsy process. Graham’s death certificate will remain pending until toxicology testing and microscopic examination of tissue are finished.
Toxicology testing can determine whether medications, alcohol, illegal drugs or toxic substances were present. Microscopic examination can reveal disease or damage that may not be visible during the initial autopsy.
Those tests are routine in cases involving an autopsy and do not themselves indicate suspicion of poisoning or criminal conduct.
The final report will formally confirm the cause of death and classify the manner of death, such as natural, accidental, homicide, suicide or undetermined.
Graham had served in Congress since 1995 and was campaigning for a fifth Senate term. His death created an unexpected vacancy and reduced the Republican Party’s working majority as lawmakers prepared to return for a four-week legislative session.
