WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12 — U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the most influential voices on American foreign policy and a close ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”
In a statement released on Sunday, Graham’s office said the South Carolina senator died on Saturday evening but did not disclose the cause of his illness.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement said.
Graham had represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 after being elected in 2002, becoming one of the Republican Party’s most prominent lawmakers on national security, defence and foreign affairs.
At the time of his death, he was serving as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking another term in office.
Final Trip to Ukraine
Just days before his death, Graham travelled to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss continued U.S. support for Ukraine and a proposed sanctions package targeting Russia.
A longtime advocate of military assistance to Ukraine, Graham consistently argued that Russia’s invasion posed a broader threat to global security.
In a 2023 interview, he warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not stop with Ukraine, arguing that a weak Western response could embolden further aggression.
From Trump Critic to Key Ally
Although Graham sharply criticized Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, the two later forged a close political alliance.
He became one of Trump’s strongest defenders in the Senate, backing many of the former president’s judicial nominations, foreign policy positions and legislative priorities.
Following news of Graham’s death, President Trump paid tribute to the senator, describing him as a “true American Patriot.”
Long Career in Washington
Before joining the Senate, Graham served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and previously worked as a military lawyer in the U.S. Air Force.
Throughout his congressional career, he was regarded as one of Washington’s most influential Republican voices on defence, national security and international affairs.
Funeral arrangements had not been announced by the time of publication.