US Senator Lindsey Graham Dead at 71 Following Abrupt Illness
US Senator Lindsey Graham Dead at 71 Following Abrupt Illness
By BBC Washington
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has died at 71. A statement from his office said he passed away on Saturday night after what was described as a "brief and sudden illness."
Graham entered the US Senate in 2002 and over two decades became known in Washington as a forceful commentator on international matters and a firm supporter of US military action overseas.
President Donald Trump honored his longtime associate. "He was a true American Patriot and he will be greatly missed," Trump stated.
The senator had just returned from Kyiv on Friday, where he held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. His office said there were no reported health problems prior to that trip.
Trump told NBC News he spoke with Graham hours before he died. "He sounded great, but a little tired," Trump said. "He was a tough cookie in many ways. If he wanted to get something, if he thought he was right and people were against him, he could be very tough, actually. But he was a good person."
American news outlets reported that emergency crews were dispatched to Graham’s home in Washington, D.C. on Saturday night after an alert about a cardiac arrest.
From Opponent to AllyAlly:
Graham’s ties with Trump changed sharply across the years. In 2015 he denounced Trump as a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot." Before the 2016 election he cautioned: "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed -- and we will deserve it."
After the January 6 Capitol attack in 2021, Graham told the Senate: "Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough."
The rift did not last. Graham voted to acquit Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial and endorsed his 2024 campaign. He cited Trump’s approach to the southern border, the strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, and the naming of conservative judges. "There is a dark side to Donald Trump -- and he was a very good president. But I am sticking with him because I saw what he did," Graham said in a 2023 interview.
Strong Voice on Global Affairs:
Graham built a reputation for supporting US intervention abroad, including firm backing for Israel and a tough position on Iran. Speaking to CBS last month, he said the US would "obliterate" Iran if it did not agree to US oversight of the Strait of Hormuz. It was one of his last appearances on television.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded on Saturday. "Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable," Netanyahu said. "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends."
Graham voted to authorize force in Iraq in 2001 after the September 11 attacks. He also condemned the US exit from Afghanistan as a "sad and dangerous event for US national security." "Jihadists all over the world are celebrating," he said then. "America will be seen as weak. America and the world have lost a determined leader."
Background and What Happens Next:
Graham endured personal loss while in college, losing both parents within two years. He helped care for his younger sister and later adopted her legally.
After completing law school, he served in the US Air Force as a prosecutor and defense lawyer before moving into elected office.
Following his death, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster can name a temporary replacement to hold the seat until January. Voters will choose a permanent successor in November’s midterm elections.
Before Graham died, Republicans controlled the Senate 53-47, making the chamber a central focus in the upcoming elections.
The news also comes as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky remains in hospital for an undisclosed illness. His team has shared little information about his condition.
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