President Donald Trump called for Darline Graham Nordone, sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), to serve as a placeholder senator in the wake of his death.
Graham, who had previously been diagnosed with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, died over the weekend after an emergency medical episode. Graham was 71 years old.
“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” the president wrote in a statement on Truth Social Monday morning. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”
McMaster is slated to hold a press conference at the South Carolina State House on Monday at 4 p.m. to announce an appointment.
Graham was a close ally of the president, frequently serving as a top intermediary for Trump between the White House and congressional Republicans.
WHAT IS AN AORTIC DISSECTION? THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY REVEALED AS LINDSEY GRAHAM’S CAUSE OF DEATH
The president said Sunday during an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press that he spoke with Graham overnight on Saturday, possibly just “minutes before” Graham’s death.
“Other than being tired, he was fine,” the president said. “And so it had to be something like that, that would just be a quick end. And maybe that’s not the worst way to go.”