{"id":2629363,"date":"2026-07-13T23:12:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T03:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-i-could-see-rep-russell-fry-replace-lindsey-graham\/"},"modified":"2026-07-13T23:13:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T03:13:12","slug":"trump-says-i-could-see-rep-russell-fry-replace-lindsey-graham","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-says-i-could-see-rep-russell-fry-replace-lindsey-graham\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump says &#8216;I could see&#8217; Rep. Russell Fry replace Lindsey Graham"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-says-i-could-see-rep-russell-fry-replace-lindsey-graham%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629363&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald trump indicated that Rep. Russell Fry, a young and popular congressman from South Carolina, coudl potentially succeed the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Trump praised Fry as talented and performing better than Graham&#8217;s predecessor, suggesting he is a notable candidate for the Senate seat. Graham\u2019s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, has been appointed by Governor Henry McMaster to fill Graham&#8217;s seat temporarily.A Republican primary is upcoming to select a candidate for the November election, were they will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. Graham&#8217;s death, which was attributed by Trump to health issues similar to those of his father, has reshaped expectations for what was once considered a safe Republican seat in a conservative state. Trump also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kash-patel-reacts-to-trump-musk-feud-in-real-time-with-joe-rogan\/\" title=\"Kash Patel reacts to ...-Musk feud in real time with Joe Rogan\">dismissed conspiracy theories<\/a> about Graham\u2019s death,reaffirming health complications as the cause.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> on Monday suggested Rep. Russell Fry (R-SC) could be a contender to replace the late Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"737\">Lindsey Graham<\/a>, who died unexpectedly over the weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cRussell Fry, a young congressman, is outstanding, and that could happen. I could see that happening,\u201d Trump told <em>Newsmax\u2019s<\/em> Greg Kelly. \u201cI think he\u2019s a very, very talented person. He took the place of somebody that was \u2014 I mean, he\u2019s doing much better than the person that preceded him. He\u2019s been very popular in the state.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4647060\/cornyn-midterm-convention-snub-paxton-texas\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Cornyn hints at midterm convention snub after loss to Paxton: \u2018May have a conflict\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4646573\/ilhan-omar-endorse-abdul-el-sayed-michigan-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Omar endorses Michigan Senate hopeful el Sayed as \u2018best choice\u2019 to defeat GOP<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4646124\/bernie-sanders-troy-jackson-fundraiser-graham-platner-drop-out-maine-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Sanders\u2019s organizing group to feature Troy Jackson in latest fundraiser a week after Graham Platner dropout<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump added that Fry is \u201csomebody you can watch out for,\u201d while noting there could be other candidates interested in the seat.<br \/>\u201cI believe the sister is there only on an interim basis,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/henry-mcmaster\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5310\"> Henry McMaster<\/a> (R-SC) on Monday appointed Graham\u2019s sister, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4646870\/what-to-know-darline-graham-nordone-senator\/\">Darline Graham Nordone<\/a>, to temporarily fill the Senate seat left vacant by her brother\u2019s death and serve out the remainder of his term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Republican special primary next month will determine which GOP candidate advances to the November general election, where they will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews. As of Monday, no <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republican\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"926\">Republican<\/a> candidate had announced a bid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graham\u2019s death has reshaped what was expected to be a safe Republican seat in the deeply conservative state, possibly giving Democrats an opening in the 2026 midterm elections. Graham had been considered the clear front-runner for reelection.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump also addressed Graham\u2019s health history, comparing his death to that of Graham\u2019s father, who died at 69 after suffering a heart attack.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s difficult, and his father died just about at the same age,\u201d Trump said. \u201cI\u2019m a believer in the racehorse theory \u2014 if you have problems, you have problems. And he had some problems that were a little bit deep-seated and not easy to find.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump said Graham had previously dealt with artery issues but suggested his death was caused by a separate heart condition.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019ve had great doctors, and they talked about a certain part of his body literally blew up, and that\u2019s a condition I believe his father had also,\u201d Trump said. \u201cHis father died very, very young from heart complications, and that\u2019s what Lindsey had.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump said he had recently spoken with Graham after the senator returned from a trip to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"82\">Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was a worker. I tell you, he was always someplace, and he loved it though,\u201d Trump said. \u201cHe was a good \u2014 he was really a great politician, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4645305\/democrats-annie-andrews-graham-south-carolina-senate\/\"><strong>DEMOCRATS SEE OPENING AFTER GRAHAM\u2019S DEATH SHAKES UP SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump also pushed back on conspiracy theories surrounding Graham\u2019s death, saying he believed the senator\u2019s health problems were the cause.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019d love to say yes, but I think he had some problems,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump hints Fry may replace late Graham in Senate race<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2629364,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP24021034592855.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3803,5894,28749,82679,3634],"class_list":["post-2629363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-graham","tag-politics","tag-replacements","tag-russellfry","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP24021034592855.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629363"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629367,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629363\/revisions\/2629367"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}