Lindsey Graham, key Trump ally and longtime US senator, dies at 71 after sudden illness
Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican from South Carolina and close ally of Donald Trump, has died from a sudden illness at age 71, his office announced early Sunday.
Lindsey Graham, a longtime US senator from South Carolina and a key ally of former President Donald Trump, died from a sudden illness, his office announced in the early hours of Sunday, July 12. He had just turned 71.
Graham had served in the Senate since 2003 and was running for re-election in November. Last week, he visited Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy praised the meeting on social media on Friday, noting that Graham recognized Ukraine's warriors.
Political career and shifts
Graham, a retired Air Force Reserve colonel and military lawyer, was known as a foreign policy hawk. He supported the Iraq War, long urged military action against Iran, and opposed the nuclear deal negotiated by President Barack Obama.
In 2016, Graham ran for president and was initially a sharp critic of Trump, calling him a "race-baiting bigot" and warning that nominating Trump would destroy the Republican Party. Trump, in turn, called Graham an "idiot" and a "lightweight."
However, after Trump became the undisputed leader, Graham became a valuable ally who served as an interlocutor between the president and Congress. In 2018, he fiercely defended Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
A brief rift occurred after the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, when Graham said "enough is enough," but later he refused to vote to convict Trump in the impeachment trial. He quickly renewed his support for Trump in the 2024 election and often played golf with him.
Tributes and legacy
Graham's death marks the end of the "three amigos" era, which included Graham, Joe Lieberman, and John McCain—all close friends and fellow senators. McCain died in 2018, Lieberman in 2024.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called Graham "irreplaceable," while Israeli officials, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, expressed condolences, highlighting his unwavering support for Israel.
