U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died suddenly late Saturday after a brief illness, his office announced. The 71-year-old Republican was a prominent Trump supporter and longtime advocate for American military intervention abroad.
Graham's office released a brief statement on X without disclosing the specific cause of death. The senator's family requested privacy and asked for prayers during what they described as an incredibly difficult period.
The timing of his death was marked by several significant engagements. Graham had been scheduled to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday morning. Just the day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released video of the two men meeting in Kyiv. Graham was also actively campaigning for his fifth Senate term, a race he had been favored to win.
Tributes from political leaders and foreign officials began immediately. President Trump posted on Truth Social that Graham was one of the greatest people and senators he had ever known, calling him a true American patriot. Senate Majority Leader John Thune highlighted Graham's advocacy for the United States and support for freedom-loving nations globally.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham had been one of Israel's greatest friends and an American patriot. Zelensky expressed gratitude for Graham's recognition of Ukraine's courage and people.
Graham first entered Congress in 1994 as a House member and was elected to the Senate in 2002. Before his political career, he spent years as a lawyer in the U.S. Air Force and remained in the Air Force Reserves while serving in office, ultimately retiring as a colonel in 2015. His military background shaped his hawkish foreign policy positions throughout his Senate tenure.
Author James Rodriguez: "Graham's influence on Trump's thinking about Ukraine and Israel was substantial, and his sudden loss leaves a real gap in a critical moment for both countries in Congress."
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