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Lindsey Graham, 71, Remembered by Colleagues After Sudden Death; Statement Says McConnell was Hospitalized Last Month After Fall; Final Four: Argentina v. England, France v. Spain. Aired 6-6:30a ET

Aired July 13, 2026 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[06:00:03]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): There were other things he did I really, really disagreed with and thought were bad choices and violated our shared values. But I also saw him, in his best moments, fighting fiercely for the underdog in America.

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AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Democrat Senator Chris Coons, remembering his Republican Senate colleague from South Carolina. Washington wakes up this week in a new political reality.

Good morning, everybody. I'm Audie Cornish. And the sudden death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham sending shockwaves through Capitol Hill. It could -- it could shake up not only the Senate, but the midterm elections.

Senator Graham died over the weekend, shortly after returning from an overseas trip to Ukraine, where he was championing a new sanctions package on Russia.

Now, just hours after returning to D.C., medics were called to his home. Graham's office says that he died of complications from a cardiovascular disease.

President Trump called in to CNN to remember his one-time political rival, who eventually became one of his biggest allies.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, U.S. PRESIDENT (via phone): He's a great politician. He was a natural -- there are very few of them. He was a natural politician, got along with everybody. When he didn't, he was very tough. You know, he was a tough cookie, too. But he got -- he got along with everybody.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CORNISH: Joining me now in the group chat, Eleanor Mueller, White House economy policy reporter at "Semafor"; Elena Schneider, national political reporter at "NOTUS"; and Adam Harris, co-host of "Radio Atlantic." Thank you guys for being with me here on this Monday morning.

And I have to say, I think it was a surprise and shock to everybody, because Lindsey Graham had very much been on the road. We're going to talk about his foreign policy approach in -- later in the show.

But first, I want to talk about him as reflecting the arc of the Republican Party itself, going from anti-Trump to bear hug Trump.

Adam, can you talk about sort of how you were thinking about his legacy this morning?

ADAM HARRIS, CO-HOST, "RADIO ATLANTIC": Yes. You know, I -- when you think about the 2016 campaign --

CORNISH: Right.

HARRIS: -- it was a very sort of vicious campaign in terms of the language that they were -- that they were using to describe each other.

CORNISH: And Graham was running for -- for president.

HARRIS: Graham was running for president. And he's -- he's calling President Trump all sorts of names, things that, you know, if were in a group chat, I'm not -- I'm not necessarily coming back to the group chat after that.

CORNISH: Yes, exactly.

HARRIS: But they -- they have -- the way that they sort of mended that. Right? Graham has always said he wanted to be relevant, was one of the things he said in 2018, was that if you know anything about me, it's that I want to be relevant.

And so, by aligning himself with President Trump after that, it sort of shows the way that the Republican Party moved from this -- this -- this person; the president was an outsider. He was somebody who they didn't necessarily see as somebody who could be under the conservative tent -- to the sort of central sort of nucleus of -- of the Republican Party.

CORNISH: Yes. And trying to find a way to do that while still maintaining your own interests. Because Graham famously is a war hawk as somebody who is always been a part of the wing of the party that cares about foreign policy and found a way somehow to still do it while being with, you know, a rising kind of isolationist wing.

ELENA SCHNEIDER, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, "NOTUS": Yes. I mean, I think it's important to note that he was just hours from coming back from Ukraine after he passed away, and that he was on the road, you know, in Europe trying to work on behalf of -- of Ukrainian sort of support and resources, which, as we all know, is not something that President Trump has always necessarily been in favor of.

And so, one could argue that Lindsey Graham, being in his ear, has been central to sort of keeping Ukraine in this conversation in terms of --

CORNISH: His critics would definitely argue that. Yes.

SCHNEIDER: Absolutely. And so -- and same goes for his role in terms of Middle East, you know, dealing with Iran, dealing with Israel.

So, look, his -- his death is -- is a -- is really going to echo not through just the halls of Washington, but through the entire sort of geopolitical global moment that we're in right now, given all the conflicts that are going on.

CORNISH: So, just so people know what happens, this does open up a Senate seat.

SCHNEIDER: It does.

CORNISH: And one that nobody was expecting to be open. Graham was running.

And I just want to give everyone a sense of what happens next in South Carolina. The candidates will have one week to file to say, Hey, I'd like to run.

[06:05:03]

Then there's a primary in August. Whoever wins that will head to the general election in November. So, this process is pretty well-laid out, but it is short.

ELEANOR MUELLER, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMY POLICY REPORTER, "SEMAFOR": It's short and it's complicated. I think the conversations we've seen in the last 24 hours have illustrated just how narrow the GOP's control of Washington is.

We saw House Republicans like Joe Wilson, who is the South Carolina delegation's most senior member --

CORNISH: Yes.

MUELLER: -- basically come out and say, maybe they were interested. Folks who knew him said that he was fielding calls.

CORNISH: And I'm going to put up a map so people know the states that are in play right now; in play at various degrees. We've made them yellow, just for the -- for the sake of ease, from Michigan to Maine to Texas.

And I don't think of South Carolina really being in play. I see it as going to stay Republican, even if there's a new senator.

MUELLER: Yes. I think that -- I think the assumption is it's going to stay Republican, and it's just where can we pull someone from who could successfully fill this seat, at least until the term is up?

And Scott Bessent even, we saw reporting from "Politico" that he was fielding calls. I spoke with someone who's familiar with his thinking. He said -- that person said, you know that he's happy where he is. He thinks he can make the biggest difference for the president as treasury secretary.

But clearly, this is a, you know, look in every corner type of search, at least for now.

CORNISH: Yes. I want to play just a little bit of Graham himself. This is him over the years. in a way, it sort of is emblematic of his relationship with President Trump, who as of yesterday was talking about Graham almost as a member of the family. They've come a long way. Here you go.

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SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR: Trump and I have -- we've had a Hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. Count me out. Enough is enough.

I think President Trump is the most consequential Republican in the country. He's the leader of the party.

If you nominate Trump and Cruz, I think you get the same outcome. You know, whether it's death by being shot or poisoning, does it really matter?

The good news for the Republican Party, there are many, many talented people for years to come, but there is only one Donald Trump.

Donald Trump is the most unelectable Republican I've seen in my lifetime.

Mr. President, you're not far behind God (ph), but we're going to start with him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: OK. Lastly, I want to talk about the president remembering him. Here was Trump on Sunday, talking to CNN about what he'd like to see happen next. And his words for the late senator.

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TRUMP (via phone): He was pushing very, very hard. You probably know, he wanted to do the SAVE America Act, that he was talking about that. He was full of vim and vigor. He was tired. He said, I'm tired, because it's a long trip. But other than that, he was -- he was fine.

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CORNISH: I noticed the president still managed to mention his chief priority right now, the priority that is inadvertently holding up almost everything else. HARRIS: You know, it's interesting that the president mentioned him

as, you know, a great politician, because he immediately starts playing politics as soon as -- as Lindsey Graham is -- before the body is even cold necessarily. Right?

There is a -- one of the things that sort of came through in the -- in the clips, right, with him in 2016, him in 2023, is this sort of idea that a lot of Americans have of the hypocrisy of politics, right? That you are -- you will -- you will say one thing about a person one day and the very next day, as long as it aligns with your policy priorities, you will -- you will change gears.

CORNISH: Yes.

HARRIS: J.D. Vance yesterday, in remembering Lindsey Graham, said that, you know, he didn't care if you were a religious fundamentalist. He didn't care if you were a policy hawk. He just cared if you had an "R" behind your name. Right? And if that was the case, then -- then he could support you.

And so, it is -- it's interesting that the president is -- is -- that's a -- that's a -- the SAVE -- SAVE America Act is one that he's really gung-ho about. And of course, he's going to use any -- any political opportunity.

CORNISH: Yes. OK. We're going to move on, because as you guys are talking about, the Senate is back this week. They're going to be processing the death of a very long-time member, and then trying to figure out how they actually pass anything in a very compressed schedule with big priorities. So, we're going to talk about that.

Also, a clash between the White House and "The New York Times" headed to court. Is this a case of national security or an attack on free press?

Plus, Senator Mitch McConnell is back in the picture, literally. What took him so long to explain his silence?

And the World Cup Final Four takes center stage this week in Atlanta and Dallas. Who's your favorite to win?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Against France, we'll win 100 percent, 4-0.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This World Cup is ours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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CORNISH: OK. I want to give you an update on another lawmaker whose hospitalization has been the topic of intense speculation over the last several weeks.

Senator Mitch McConnell revealed a fall sent him to the hospital after leaving him briefly unconscious. The 84-year-old stated that he did not break any bones or suffer a concussion, but that he had to also deal with a mild case of pneumonia.

Now, McConnell said in a statement that he is out of the hospital in a rehab center to regain his strength. The senator, also in his statement, indirectly addressed why it took so long to share what sent him to the hospital.

It said this: "You all know how folks of my generation often hesitate to share the vulnerability that comes with growing older. Even in the public eye, I feel that same instinct. I can't help it."

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Group chat is back. Now, a couple of us on here have worked in Congress. The Senate is, like, the world's oldest high school, and this didn't really seem to be a problem. Right?

But now that this Boomer generation and, in some cases, Greatest Generation lawmakers are really reaching their very senior levels, you have the voter really starting to question this.

I'm going to just throw up a poll. NPR, PBS/Marist. Eight in 10 Americans in favor of setting age caps on members of Congress.

SCHNEIDER: And they're not alone. I mean, Mitt Romney, who ran for president, has also floated the -- the necessity of having age limits on whether people run for president, run for higher office. I think that there's a real sensitivity about how old this Congress currently is.

CORNISH: Would people be saying this if it wasn't for Biden?

MUELLER: I was about to say that. I think that he's a big part of this conversation. Watching his decline so publicly, the fact that he was forced to drop out of this race --

CORNISH: But do you think it would still come up or just --

MUELLER: -- intensified it. I think it would still come up.

CORNISH: OK.

MUELLER: Because even before we saw the full brunt of what was going on in the Oval Office last administration, we were seeing momentum in the House, specifically where committees are led by seniority on the Democratic side.

CORNISH: Yes.

MUELLER: They don't vote on it like Republicans. It's whoever's served on that committee the longest. Whoever's been on the Hill the longest.

We were already seeing folks start to question whether that is the best way to decide who's going to be driving their policy.

CORNISH: Not just people who wanted their gavels.

MUELLER: Exactly.

CORNISH: OK. You know, of the members of Congress who are 70 or older. I was looking at this list, "New York Times" finding 131 out of the 530. So, yes, this is the oldest Congress in modern history.

Also -- and it's also the era of longevity -- longevity. You know what I mean? Like, people are living longer, and they're living healthier longer. Shouldn't this be expected?

HARRIS: Well, you know, I actually think Congress can sometimes function in the American mind as a sort of black box. And so, when you have issues and things like Kay Granger down in Texas, right, where she was quite literally in critical care for -- for several weeks, without people really noticing that she was gone from Congress.

I think the fact that we have senators, that we have congressmen who are aging, who are -- and that we don't necessarily know where they are, and then they're not necessarily forthcoming with it. I think that there's already a trust gap with Congress, and this sort of adds -- and adds to that trust gap.

CORNISH: Yes. And also, does it contribute to the, like, they're not parents anymore. They don't know what it's like to struggle. It's not just about their wealth, of which there is a lot.

It is also that they're, like, pretty far removed from some of the struggles of the average person. And in some cases, grandparents are the ones holding up the U.S. economy right now. And some of these folks don't live that life either.

SCHNEIDER: Well, and I think that the -- the feeling that -- or the sensitivity, or the awareness about the age of Congress is exacerbated and intensified by how narrow the margins are.

So, every time that there is a death, or every time there is an absence, it is felt so deeply, because then it scrambles the math for everything.

I mean, the House is operating -- Republicans are operating with a two-seat majority in the House. So, that's why, even in the case of South Carolina, they're not looking to appoint somebody from South Carolina, because they can't risk losing another body.

You know, Tom Kean, the New Jersey congressman who also had to step back, you know, understandably, to deal with health issues. I mean, this is --

CORNISH: But didn't step back from running and then later came out and said it was mental health issues.

SCHNEIDER: Right.

CORNISH: But again, to your point, didn't feel the sense to throw things in question by implying he'd be out for any amount of time.

SCHNEIDER: Right. And I think it all goes back to Adam's point where some of this just makes clear to the American voters some of the real problems that come with, then, once you get into Congress, you don't want to let it go. And --

CORNISH: Right. And most of us can't disappear from our jobs for weeks and months on end, much less pay for our health care.

So, after the break on CNN THIS MORNING, we're going to discuss Senator Lindsey Graham's political legacy. He was one of the Republican Party's most consequential and sometimes controversial voices. Will there be another like him?

And one trophy, four teams. Who survives the World Cup Final Four?

And this is a live look at the White House, where President Trump will host Indy car drivers today ahead of next week's Freedom 250 Grand Prix.

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CORNISH: The Final Four of the FIFA World Cup is set. It's going to be France versus Spain in Dallas tomorrow. England versus defending champs Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Now, the tournament started off with underdog success stories, but now the four highest ranked teams in the world are in the semifinals.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Argentina. One of the things that is -- it's characteristic is the resilience. I mean, I think that's the trademark of this team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bellingham, what a player. If he didn't have Bellingham, we'd be out right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Against France, we'll win 100 percent, 4-0.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This World Cup is ours.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: America is magic. I go to the last (ph). Let's go!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CORNISH: OK. Joining me now, Will Leitch, contributing editor at "New York" magazine. He's been watching the games with us and for us the last couple of days.

Will, thanks for being back.

I'm going to come to Argentina in a minute. But I just want to say, kind of great, having this many teams in the World Cup. Like, it made it more exciting to watch, even though were just down to the four kind of predictable countries.

WILL LEITCH, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: Yes. You know, they're actually talking about expanding it for 2030, for the next World Cup, from 48 teams to 64.

I think there was a lot of controversy originally going from 32 to 48. It's turned out to be magnificent. Cape Verde, most famously, being an underdog team that really inspired a lot of people.

[06:25:04]

I think there was a worry that a lot of these smaller teams would get destroyed by some of the larger teams. That hasn't happened, and yet, we still have the stars in the final.

In a lot of ways, it -- for -- American fans will understand it's a little like college basketball. The underdogs are all exciting. The Cinderellas in the early rounds.

And then when you get to the Final Four, it's generally just the blue bloods and the best teams. We've seen that here.

That's kind of an ideal situation for a World Cup. The underdogs get their moments early, and then we see the superstars late. Going from 48 to 64 like they may do, there's a theory that could make it even more powerful.

CORNISH: And then let's start with those superstars. I mean, Argentina obviously defending champs, but really just such a fantastic, like, display of the game these last couple matches.

And I know you were at one of the craziest ones, their 3-2 comeback over Egypt. Can you talk about chances going forward, how they'll square up against England?

LEITCH: Yes, I'm in the press box for a lot of these games. But late, late in the game, I go down and sit in the stands. And I was hugged by so many Argentinian fans. They were hugging everyone in sight at the end of that.

It was very -- it was an unbelievable comeback, you know, for -- really, with ten minutes left, it looked like Messi's international career with Argentina may be over. Argentina's kind of been riding that line the entire tournament. They've had many close games. They've just kind of come back.

England, they're probably favored against England. Jude Bellingham has really kind of bailed them out of a lot of situations.

Just an absolutely terrific game setting up for Wednesday in Atlanta.

France, Spain, the night before -- the day before in Dallas is even -- is just as exciting. And of course, then the final in Sunday. I will actually also be at

the final in East Rutherford. I think I may have to get in line for the bus right now to eventually get out to -- to East Rutherford for that.

But yes, you really could not have asked for superstars all the way across the board: from Mbappe in France to Lamine Yamal in Spain. Obviously, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane in England. And of course, Messi in Argentina.

These are the biggest names in soccer internationally, and they're all on the widest stage.

One of the craziest things about being at these games, you know I'm right there. You know, to be there in Atlanta. I'll be there in East Rutherford. There's something almost awe-inspiring and humbling to realize, wow, like a billion people are watching this thing that's happening right in front of me. It really kind of blows you away.

It's -- it's really been a special thing, and for the United States to have. And I think it's ending up in the best possible way.

CORNISH: OK. Well, Will, you're having entirely too much fun. Please bring your -- your earbuds, so that I can call you from the line for the next games.

LEITCH: Of course.

CORNISH: We'll talk again soon.

LEITCH: Of course. Thank you. I'll call you from the bus.

CORNISH: And straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, we're going to turn to the Middle East and the so-called ceasefire, which looks like it's over. U.S. and Iran trade attacks. The debate over whether the Strait of Hormuz will ever be open.

Plus, flames shooting out of the front door of this pub in Bangkok. The latest on a fire that killed more than two dozen people.

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