U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the Republican Party’s most influential foreign policy voices and a close ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”
According to reports, emergency responders were called to Graham’s Washington, D.C., home following a cardiac arrest. While NBC News reported that paramedics responded to a cardiac arrest call, Graham’s office has not officially confirmed the cause of death, stating only that he died after a brief and sudden illness.
Graham, who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003, was widely regarded as one of America’s leading foreign policy hawks. Throughout his career, he championed a strong U.S. military posture abroad, advocating continued support for Ukraine, unwavering backing for Israel, and increased pressure on Russia and Iran.
In recent months, Graham played a prominent role in urging tougher action against Iran and was considered one of the Republican lawmakers with the greatest influence over President Trump on national security and foreign affairs. Although he had been one of Trump’s fiercest critics during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, the two later forged a close political alliance that made Graham one of the president’s most trusted advisers in Congress.
His outspoken support for Ukraine and criticism of the Kremlin made him a frequent target of Russian officials. In February 2024, Russia placed Graham on its list of “terrorists and extremists” and added him to its wanted list over comments he made regarding the war in Ukraine.
Tributes have begun pouring in from political leaders across the United States and abroad, reflecting Graham’s significant influence on American foreign policy over more than two decades in the Senate. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is expected to appoint a temporary replacement until a special election is held, in accordance with state law.