Lindsey Graham was booked for 64th 'Meet the Press' appearance before sudden death

"Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker paid tribute Sunday to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham after the South Carolina Republican died the night before, noting that he had been scheduled to make his 64th appearance on the NBC program that morning.

"Senator Lindsey Graham was scheduled to appear on @MeetThePress this morning. It would have been his 64th appearance on this broadcast. We are sending our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues," Welker shared on X.

"Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker honored Sen. Lindsey Graham after his death prevented a planned 64th appearance on the NBC program. (NBC)

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Welker announced that President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would instead appear on Sunday’s broadcast to discuss Graham, who was a close Trump ally and staunch supporter of Israel.

"President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will join us this morning to reflect on his life and legacy," Welker said.

During his conversation with Welker, President Donald Trump said that he spoke with Graham on Saturday night just hours before the GOP firebrand's sudden death. Trump revealed the detail, saying they spoke in the early evening after Graham returned to Washington from Ukraine.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined "Meet the Press" to reflect on Graham’s life and political legacy. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images; Ron Sachs/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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"So what makes it even stranger is that I got a call last night sometime. You know, the early evening, maybe in the sevens. And he called, and he said, 'We're all set for the SAVE America Act.' He was pushing the SAVE America act like crazy. He got back, said he just landed from Ukraine and I said, 'That's a long trip to make.' And he said — he sounded a little tired, but perfect, but a little bit tired. Had a right to be. He was a worker. He was really a worker," Trump said.

"But he sounded great, actually... He said he was tired, but he wanted to pass the SAVE America Act. And I said, 'Well, we're going to get it done, Lindsey. We're going to get it done. I'll see you, like soon.' We thought maybe we might even meet today. And then that was it. And that was, you know, very around the time, it couldn't have been much longer. It could have been his last call. I don't know exactly, but I got a message about 1:00 in the morning from one of the people in his office that he had passed away. I said I just can't believe it. He was like a member of the family to me. It's very tough, actually. It's amazing," Trump added.

Graham’s death prompted tributes across the political spectrum and triggered a fast-moving process to fill his South Carolina Senate seat. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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During Netanyahu's conversation with Welker, the prime minister called Graham a "beloved friend," and said he was in a state of shock. Netanyahu also said the death of Graham was "grief" to Israel and "celebration" to Iran.

"Lindsey never confused good and evil," he said. "He knew exactly where the Iranian regime is. He thought it was a great danger, not merely to Israel and to America's allies in the Middle East, but to America itself."

The prime minister also praised Graham for never wavering, saying he had clarity and courage.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died Saturday evening following a "brief and sudden illness," according to a statement from his office. He was 71.

"On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness," his office said.

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," it continued.

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Graham had represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003 after serving four terms in the House. The former Air Force lawyer retired as a colonel after 33 years of military service and became a prominent advocate for a muscular U.S. foreign policy. He had returned from Ukraine before his death and was running for a fifth Senate term.

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Under South Carolina law, candidate filing opens the second Tuesday after a primary nominee’s death and remains open for one week. The special primary is held two Tuesdays after filing closes, placing the election on Aug. 11, with a potential runoff on Aug. 25. The eventual Republican nominee would face Andrews in the Nov. 3 general election.