President Donald Trump appeared to get choked up during an interview while discussing the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), describing the late senator as “like a member of the family.” Trump said he received word around 1 o’clock in the morning from someone in Graham’s office that the senator had passed away. The president said he could not believe the news when he heard it. He then praised Graham as a strong advocate and a rare politician who could work effectively with both Democrats and Republicans.
The clip showed aside of Trump not often seen publicly. Trump spoke slowly as he described the late-night message and what Graham had meant to him personally. He said Graham had been someone he could turn to when he had a serious problem involving Democrats. Trump also described Graham as a skilled political operator who knew how to get things done.
Trump began by talking about the timing of the call and how close it came to Graham’s final moments. “Around the time it couldn’t have been much longer,” Trump said. “It could have been his last call. I don’t know exactly.” He then said the news came from someone connected to Graham’s office in the middle of the night.
In the clip, Trump said, “But I got a message about 1 o’clock in the morning from one of the people at his office that he had passed away.” He described his immediate reaction to hearing that Graham was gone. “I said, ‘You got—’” Trump began, before adding, “I just can’t believe it.” The president’s voice appeared to change as he moved from the timing of the message to the personal loss.
Trump described Graham in personal terms. “He was like a member of the family to me,” Trump said. He paused on how difficult the news was to process. “It’s very tough, actually,” he added. The remark came before Trump shifted into praising Graham’s work as an advocate and political ally.
Trump said Graham had been especially effective when he wanted to get something done. “It’s amazing,” Trump said. “He was, he was such an advocate.” He then began describing Graham’s ability to move between political sides. “He was, you know, if he, if he wanted to get something, and you know he had a unique ability,” Trump said.
Listen to Trump get choked up while discussing Lindsey Graham here:
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Trump said Graham’s “unique ability” was that he could deal with members of both parties. “He was able to deal with Democrats and Republicans,” Trump said. He then explained that Graham was someone he could ask for help when a situation with Democrats became difficult. “If I had a problem, a real problem, I wouldn’t often ask,” Trump said.
The president described the kind of problem where Graham could help. “But if I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out,” Trump said. He not only praised Graham as a loyal ally, he was also describing him as someone who could negotiate and resolve problems across party lines. Trump closed saying, “He was a great,” pausing briefly before finishing. “He was a great politician, actually.”