Lindsey Graham dies aged 71 as tributes pour in for US Senator
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has died aged 71 after a brief and sudden illness as tributes pour in for the close ally of Donald Trump.
The senator's office released a statement confirming that he died yesterday evening.
It reads: "Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period."
Elected to the US Senate in 2002, the South Carolina politician was one of Washington's most influential voices on defence and foreign policy, and a key ally of US President Donald Trump.
He had just returned from Kyiv, where he met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.
There had been no known health concerns for Mr Graham, with Mr Zelenskyy writing on social media that they had a “good meeting”, adding: “I’m grateful to Lindsey for recognising our warriors.”
Among those paying tribute was Henry McMaster, the governor of South Carolina, who said in a statement: “Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America - and a loyal and steadfast friend.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister for Israel, posted on X: “Today, Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. Senator Lindsey Graham stood with Israel not because it was easy, but because he believed it was right.
"His unwavering support, courage, and moral clarity earned him the admiration of millions of Israelis.”
Meanwhile, Naftali Bennett, a former Israeli prime minister, added: “America has lost a devoted patriot, and Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. Lindsey stood with Israel through our darkest hours, with courage.”
As a retired air force reserve colonel specialising as a military lawyer, Mr Graham was known for his support of the Iraq war, and had long urged military action in Iran.
He opposed the nuclear agreement negotiated by President Barack Obama, and has been one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders in the current conflict in the Middle East.
Over the course of his political career, he even ran for president in 2016, and was a sharp critic of Mr Trump at the time.
He condemned the now-President as a “jackass”, “a race-baiting bigot” and “the most flawed nominee in the history of the Republican party”.
He once wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed, and we will deserve it" - a statement which meant the response of being called an “idiot” and a “lightweight”.
However, Mr Graham later became a valued ally of Mr Trump, and in 2018 rallied the defence of Mr Trump’s nominee for the supreme court, Brett Kavanaugh.
He was again quick to endorse Mr Trump in the 2024 presidential election, and after a brief spat over Mr Trump's election defeat saga, would often played golf with him
His death now marks the passing of the last of the “three amigos”, comprising himself, Joe Lieberman and John McCain - senators and close friends who each made unsuccessful bids for the presidency.