U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a steadfast ally of President Donald Trump and a vocal proponent of a robust American foreign policy, passed away Saturday evening at the age of 71 after experiencing a “brief and sudden illness,” his office announced in a statement posted on social media. The statement did not provide further details regarding the South Carolina Republican’s death, noting that his family “appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
Tributes quickly followed the news. Former President Donald Trump posted early Sunday, saying, “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also expressed his sorrow, stating his heart was “heavy this morning to learn the passing of my friend and colleague.” Thune lauded Graham as “a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe,” who dedicated his life to advancing America’s might for good.
Graham was a highly influential figure in Washington’s foreign policy circles, frequently traveling internationally to advocate for a more assertive U.S. role. He had recently returned from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking his tenth visit to the country since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Just Friday, Graham announced an agreement with the Trump administration to advance a package of Russia sanctions. He had been scheduled to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday morning.
A former Air Force lawyer, Graham served in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2002. Throughout his career, he consistently championed a policy of robust U.S. military interventionism and a strong national defense, a stance that sometimes put him at odds with the Republican Party’s growing isolationist wing in later years.
His relationship with Donald Trump evolved significantly. Initially, during the 2016 presidential nomination race, Graham ran against Trump and was a vocal critic, calling him “unfit for office” and using profanity to describe him after Trump made disparaging comments about Sen. John McCain, Graham’s close friend and a Vietnam War veteran. Graham, McCain, and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., were known as the “Three Amigos” for their shared hawkish foreign policy views and frequent joint travels. However, after Trump won the White House, Graham pivoted, becoming one of Trump’s top allies, frequently speaking with him and often joining him on the golf course.
In a 2018 interview with The Associated Press, Graham explained his shift, attributing it to McCain’s teaching that the country must move forward after elections, implying an obligation to help the president. He stated, “And I’ve tried to be helpful where I could because I think he needs all the help he can get.” While he appeared to break with Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, declaring, “Count me out. Enough is enough,” he soon returned to the former president’s fold and remained a close confidant during Trump’s second term.
Graham held significant leadership roles in the Senate. As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee during Trump’s second term, he played a central role in pushing major legislation through party-line votes. He also chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee when Republicans confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in 2020 and had expressed his ambition to regain that gavel, posting on X on June 30, “In 2027, I’ll be Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee once again. And I’ll wake up every single day with one goal: confirming as many conservative judges as possible.”
He was also a key player in the bipartisan group that crafted a massive immigration overhaul in 2013, a sweeping measure that passed the Senate with 68 votes but failed in the House. His views on immigration, particularly his endorsement of a path to citizenship for undocumented individuals, sometimes created friction with certain Republican factions.
In his home state of South Carolina, Graham often faced primary challenges but consistently secured the nomination. He won his most recent primary last month with 57% of the GOP vote, aiming for a fifth term in November against Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, and other candidates. Following his death, South Carolina law dictates that Republican Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement. A special primary will then be held within weeks to select a new nominee, with the general election winner taking office in January for a full six-year term.
International leaders also mourned Graham’s passing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised him as “a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Graham “a great friend of Israel” and a “cherished friend,” recognizing his understanding of the inseparable security interests of Israel and the U.S. Netanyahu added, “Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.”
Graham was not married and did not have children. He is survived by his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, whom he helped raise after their parents’ deaths. Governor McMaster issued a statement calling Graham “irreplaceable,” describing him as “The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend,” concluding, “We shall not see his likes again.” His office’s sparse statement about his death comes amid broader concerns about transparency regarding lawmakers’ health, following recent undisclosed health issues for figures like Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more muscular U.S. foreign policy abroad, died Saturday evening after a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said in a statement on social media. He was 71. (Produced by Elaine Carroll)
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., gestures as he speaks to the media in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File)
