WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOOTPRESS) — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a longtime member of Congress and close political ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71, his office confirmed early Sunday.
Graham died Saturday night following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” his office said in a statement.
Emergency personnel reportedly responded to Graham’s Capitol Hill home Saturday night following a call for cardiac arrest. Paramedics were seen taking a person from the home to an ambulance. A top Graham staffer said there had been no indication that the senator was feeling unwell before his death.
Graham had been scheduled to appear Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
President Donald Trump led tributes to Graham on Sunday, calling him “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and a “true American Patriot.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune remembered Graham as a strong advocate for the United States and an ally of freedom-loving countries around the world.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster described Graham as “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America—and a loyal and steadfast friend.”
Graham was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth six-year term in November. He had defeated multiple Republican primary challengers in June to secure his party’s nomination.
Under South Carolina law, McMaster will appoint someone to fill Graham’s Senate seat until Jan. 3. South Carolina Republicans will also have to select a replacement nominee for the November election, with a special primary expected by Aug. 11.
Graham’s death came shortly after a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he met Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and of the values that make our world safer,” Zelenskyy said, noting that Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times during the war with Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte remembered Graham as a strong advocate for the United States and NATO who was working to help bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also paid tribute to Graham, saying Israel had lost one of its greatest friends and America had lost a great patriot.
From Small-Town South Carolina to the U.S. Senate
Graham grew up in Central, South Carolina, where his parents operated a restaurant and pool hall. He was the first person in his family to attend college and later earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina.
He went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force as a lawyer and spent a total of 33 years in the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and South Carolina Air National Guard. He retired in 2015 with the rank of colonel.
Graham entered Congress in 1995 as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served until 2003.
He won election to the U.S. Senate in 2002, succeeding retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond, and took office in 2003.
During his decades in Washington, Graham became one of the Senate’s most recognizable voices on national security, defense and foreign policy. He was known for advocating a strong U.S. role overseas and was a vocal supporter of Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
Graham developed close friendships with former Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. The three became known as the “Three Amigos” because of their shared foreign policy views.
Graham also served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021 and later became chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
From Trump Critic to Close Ally
Graham’s relationship with Trump changed dramatically over the past decade.
He initially emerged as a sharp Trump critic while briefly running against him for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Graham ultimately voted for a third-party candidate in the 2016 presidential election, saying at the time that he could support neither Trump nor Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
In the years that followed, however, Graham became one of Trump’s most prominent allies in the Senate while occasionally disagreeing with the president on foreign policy and other issues.
In a February interview with NBC News, Graham described himself as Trump’s “north star.”
“We disagree, but he knows where I am coming from,” Graham said. “He sees me helping him as much as anybody in the Senate.”
Graham’s death leaves a major vacancy in South Carolina’s congressional delegation and removes one of the Republican Party’s most prominent voices on foreign policy after more than three decades of public and military service.
