Trump's Response to Lindsey Graham's Passing Sparks Reactions

WHO:

ComingSoon.net - Lindsey Graham, U.S. senator

Mashable - Donald Trump, Jon Stewart, Seth Meyers, Ike Barinholtz

WHAT:

Alternet - Trump made a “stunning admission” about his media manipulation plans during a call with Jake Tapper for CNN, stating, “WE are trying to get CNN to go down a normal path.”

Alternet - Political analyst Dan Pfeiffer described Trump's comments as a “warning sign for democracy” and noted that 12 states are suing to prevent the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN.

ComingSoon.net - Jon Stewart criticized Washington's political leadership, linking it to President Trump's influence.

Mashable - Trump provided a eulogy for Lindsey Graham during a call to "Fox & Friends."

Mashable - Ike Barinholtz discussed Trump's reaction to Graham's death on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

WHERE:

Mashable - The discussions took place on television shows, specifically "The Daily Show," "Fox & Friends," and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

WHY:

Alternet - Senator Bernie Sanders asserted that Larry Ellison spent $45 million to elect Trump and criticized the approval of Ellison's takeover of CNN and CBS, stating, “In a democracy, the president does not control the media.”

ComingSoon.net - Jon Stewart's comments were part of a broader critique of the aging political leadership in the U.S., which he attributed to figures like Trump.

HOW:

Mashable - Trump expressed his sentiments about Graham's passing through a eulogy delivered on a television call.

(UPDATED July 14, 2026 18:18 UTC)

Trump recently made a stunning admission during a call with Jake Tapper for CNN, revealing that he and his team are trying to steer CNN down a more conventional path. Political analyst Dan Pfeiffer described Trump's comments as a warning sign for democracy, especially as twelve states are currently suing to block the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. Meanwhile, Senator Bernie Sanders criticized Larry Ellison's $45 million investment to elect Trump and condemned the approval of Ellison's takeover of CNN and CBS, emphasizing that in a democracy, the president should not control the media.

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(UPDATED July 14, 2026 12:24 UTC)

Jon Stewart criticized the aging political leadership in the U.S., linking it to President Trump's influence during a segment on "The Daily Show." In a heartfelt eulogy delivered on a call to "Fox & Friends," Trump expressed his sentiments about the passing of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Meanwhile, Ike Barinholtz discussed Trump's reaction to Graham's death on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"