Russian state television host Vladimir Solovyov has publicly celebrated the death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of former President Donald Trump, stating, "It's too bad that it was just him." The remarks were made on his program Sunday Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, following Graham's death on Saturday due to an aortic dissection caused by heart disease, according to the District of Columbia medical examiner.
Solovyov's Reaction to Graham's Death
During the broadcast, Solovyov said, "Lindsey Graham croaked today. Maybe I should speak the way Christian traditions demand, but I won't. He croaked suddenly. Only yesterday in Kyiv, he gleefully threatened all Russians with death and called for terrible sanctions against us. He has flown back to America and croaked—all of a sudden." Solovyov speculated that Graham may have "asked Zelensky for more money" or "knew too much."
RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan joined Solovyov, stating, "This is why," and suggested Graham was "perhaps a natural-born fascist" who would be explained things in the afterlife, "even in Russian." Simonyan recited lines from Aleksandr Blok's poem The Scythians, adding, "As for the future, it's murky… It's hard to predict who is the next in line to die after Lindsey Graham."
Graham's Role and Death
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died on Saturday after returning from a trip to Kyiv where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and advocated for new sanctions on Russia. His office confirmed that the cause of death was aortic dissection due to heart disease, with no evidence of foul play according to U.S. authorities. Graham had been a leading voice in Congress for arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia, and recently helped advance efforts targeting buyers of Russian oil.
President Donald Trump reacted to the news, stating he had spoken with Graham shortly before his death and described him as "like a member of the family. It's very tough." Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff and recommended Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, for appointment to the vacant Senate seat. The White House and congressional Republicans condemned the Russian broadcasters' remarks.
Political Impact
Graham served in the Senate for more than two decades, transitioning from a Trump critic during the 2016 campaign to one of his key supporters on national security issues. His death creates a vacancy in South Carolina that Governor Henry McMaster will fill by appointment ahead of a special election. Russian state media had previously targeted Graham; in 2023, Simonyan called for his assassination following comments he made in Ukraine.
