U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican and close ally of President Donald Trump, has died at age 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”
A statement from the South Carolina senator’s office, posted to his official X account, said Graham passed away on the evening of Saturday, July 11. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement read.
Graham was widely recognised for his foreign policy influence, having consistently backed military action against Iran and, in recent years, pressed both the Trump and Biden administrations to support Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression.
President Trump paid tribute to the senator on Sunday via his Truth Social platform, describing him as “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and a “true American Patriot.”
Graham’s political relationship with Trump was not without turbulence. He mounted an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2016, at the time cautioning fellow Republicans against backing Trump, whom he described as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” Their alliance was further tested after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, when Graham declared his colleagues should “count me out, enough is enough” — though he later voted against convicting Trump during his impeachment trial. The two men reconciled following Trump’s return to office, with Graham backing his re-election campaign.
A staunch supporter of Israel, Graham also drew tributes from Israeli leaders. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him a “great friend of Israel” who understood that Israel and America’s security are inseparable, saying Graham devoted his life to defending America and strengthening the alliance between the two nations. President Isaac Herzog said he was “shocked and heartbroken” by the news, describing Graham as a leader of the U.S.-Israel partnership whose commitment to justice and loyalty would not be forgotten. The Washington Post
Graham began his political career in the House of Representatives in 1994 before winning election to the Senate in 2002. He was re-elected in 2008, 2014 and 2020, and most recently chaired the Senate Budget Committee. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called him “irreplaceable,” praising his decades of service to the state and the country.
A former military lawyer who rose to the rank of Air Force colonel, Graham’s service shaped his hawkish foreign policy outlook. He supported the 2002 vote authorising military action in Iraq following the September 11 attacks and backed a sustained U.S. military presence in Afghanistan. He was also a frequent critic of the Obama administration’s foreign policy, notably criticising its 2015 nuclear negotiations with Iran.
Graham had travelled to Kyiv as recently as Friday, meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss tougher sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy said on X that he was grateful for Graham’s support, noting it marked the senator’s tenth visit to Ukraine.