Trump tells reporters he does not know why FBI is investigating Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death, calls it “wasting their time”

President Donald Trump said he did not know why the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham and suggested the bureau would be better off not pursuing the matter, according to remarks recorded by PBS NewsHour on July 14, 2026.

In the exchange captured in the PBS video, Trump said he was unaware of the basis for the FBI’s involvement and characterized such activity as “wasting their time,” while addressing reporters’ questions about the investigation. The remarks were described by PBS NewsHour as Trump responding to a question about whether the FBI was investigating Graham’s death.

Trump’s comment comes as federal law-enforcement agencies carry out criminal and related investigative work under statutes and established jurisdictional authorities. The FBI, as a federal investigative agency, conducts inquiries into matters that fall within its mandate, including potential violations of federal criminal law, PBS reported in connection with the question to the president.

Graham’s death has prompted public interest in the scope of inquiries, including which entities are handling what aspects of the case and whether any potential federal issues are implicated. PBS NewsHour reported Trump’s reaction in the context of the question about the FBI’s investigative posture.

While Trump said he did not understand the reason for the FBI investigation, he did not, in the PBS account, provide additional details about what he believed should be examined instead, nor did he cite a particular legal theory for his view of the bureau’s involvement.

The FBI has not been quoted in the PBS report as to the status or purpose of any investigation, and the president’s remarks were presented as Trump’s assessment rather than an official finding about investigative steps.

The next step for the public record would be clarification from federal authorities, if and when they provide updates about the nature and scope of any inquiry into Graham’s death. Absent such statements, the publicly confirmed information in this episode centers on Trump’s remarks and the fact that the question raised on July 14 involved the FBI’s role.