False Lindsey Graham Death Rumor Sparks ‘Good Riddance’ Posts and Backlash Online

Several far-left commentators reacted with open hostility after the unexpected death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham was announced, with some posting celebratory remarks within hours of the news. Graham’s office said early Sunday that the South Carolina Republican, who had served in the Senate since 2002, “had passed away from a brief and sudden illness.” Multiple reports said a 911 call for “cardiac arrest” was made from Graham’s home at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, though officials have not confirmed a cause of death. Tributes quickly came from Donald Trump, senior U.S. officials, and the leaders of Israel and Ukraine, but a number of liberal and left-wing voices used the moment to condemn Graham’s political legacy.

Ana Kasparian, co-host and executive producer of the left-wing media outlet The Young Turks, appeared to be among the earliest prominent figures to respond harshly. At 2:35 a.m., roughly half an hour after Graham’s death was announced, she posted on X: “Good riddance.” Later that morning, Kyle Kulinski, host of the left-leaning podcast Secular Talk, wrote: “Miserable closet case warmonger.” The remark appeared to allude to long-running speculation about Graham’s sexuality, fueled in part by the fact that he never married or had children. Graham repeatedly and emphatically denied those rumors during his lifetime and was known for opposing pro-LGBTQ+ legislation.

Hasan Piker, the socialist commentator and livestreamer with a large online following, also posted a scathing reaction on X. “Lindsey graham was a bloodthirsty odious monster who loved war,” he wrote. Piker added: “Ironic that he achieved his best friend john mccains dream of bombing iran, only to experience the spectacular failure it turned into in his final days! he watched a century of force projection capabilities collapse.” Earlier, Piker had replied “lmao [laughing my [backside] off]” to a message mourning Graham from Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Brian Krassenstein, a left-leaning political commentator and outspoken critic of Trump, was similarly blunt. “Lindsey Graham just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead,” he posted. “He can no longer hurt innocent people! There are clearly a lot of emotions being flung around about Graham dying so suddenly. He was a war monger and diehard Trump Supporter until the very end of his 71 year life.” Jackson Hinkle, international secretary for the American Communist Party, told his nearly four million X followers: “Lindsey Graham advocated for dropping nuclear bombs on Gaza RIP BOZO.” Steve Schmidt, co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project political action committee, wrote: “Lindsey Graham was a simple, tragic man. He lacked a moral core. The great empty spaces of his life were filled with an insatiable need for ‘relevance.’ He found it as a cast member in the most malignant reality show ever made.”

Mike Drucker, an Emmy-nominated writer, producer and comedian, also weighed in on X, writing: “RIP Lindsey Graham. You taught me it was okay to be a coward whose only skill is debasing myself until death for a tiny, ultimately illusionary crumb of power.” Graham remained one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. politics, particularly because of his unwavering support for Israel as public opinion toward the country shifted in recent years. He was also a staunch backer of Ukraine and a leading hawk on Iran. His support for arming both Ukraine and Israel, along with his hardline position on Tehran, drew accusations from critics across the political spectrum, including some on the far right, that he was a warmonger. Among many Republicans, however, Graham was deeply respected, and he became one of Trump’s closest allies in the Senate, reliably backing the president’s agenda.

Graham’s death came only days after he traveled to Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Russia’s ongoing invasion. That meeting is believed to have produced the last public image of the senator. There were no publicly known health concerns before his visit to the war-torn country. Afterward, Graham said an agreement had been reached with Trump to move forward on bipartisan legislation aimed at countries buying Russian energy, a measure that could intensify pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine. He also praised Trump’s decision to strike Iranian nuclear sites last year and had supported the latest conflict that began several months ago.