Lindsey Graham, the influential South Carolina Republican senator and close ally of Donald Trump, has died at 71 after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness. He had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky.
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Lindsey Graham, the influential US senator from South Carolina and a prominent ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71, his office announced. According to NPR, his office said Graham died Saturday night after a “brief and sudden illness”.
News of his death was first reported by Sky News, which noted that Graham was a well-known Republican lawmaker and close ally of Trump. NPR described him as a foreign policy hawk, reflecting his long-standing focus on international affairs.
His office said Graham had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, as reported by CNBC. The BBC reported that he had met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, shortly before his death.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to the senator, according to the BBC, calling the 71-year-old a “true American patriot” who will be “greatly missed”.
Sky News reported that Zelensky also paid tribute following the news of Graham’s death, underscoring the senator’s engagement with Ukraine in the days before he died.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, had built a reputation as an influential figure in the Senate. The circumstances of the illness that led to his death were described only as brief and sudden by his office.
Why it matters
Lindsey Graham was one of the most recognisable and influential Republican senators and a close ally of President Trump, making his sudden death a significant loss for his party and for US foreign policy debates. His final days, spent meeting Ukraine's president in Kyiv, highlight his prominent role in international affairs.
Timeline
- Backed by Trump, Lindsey Graham’s sister Darline will replace him in Senate
Al Jazeera: South Carolina governor chooses Darline Graham Nordone to serve the rest of the late US senator's term until early 2027.
- Lindsey Graham’s legacy: Israel advocate, Trump ally, Iran war supporter
Al Jazeera: Late US senator backed invasion of Iraq, war on Iran and approach of 'more for Israel' as he became a Trump confidant.
- Trump calls for Congress to pass Clarity Act crypto bill to honor Lindsey Graham
CNBC Top News: The Senate Banking Committee approved the bill 15-9 in May, with two Democrats joining Republicans to advance the legislation.
- Trump recommends Lindsey Graham's sister serve as interim senator for South Carolina
CNBC Top News:
- What will happen to Trump’s agenda after Lindsey Graham’s death?
Al Jazeera: Graham, an ex-Trump critic, had turned into staunch supporter of the US president’s domestic and international policies.
- Senator Lindsey Graham died of aortic tear, examiner says
BBC World: Graham, a close Republican ally of Donald Trump, died at the age of 71 on Saturday evening.
- Lindsey Graham, hardline backer of US-Israeli wars, dies aged 71
Al Jazeera: US senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of Israel and one of Washington’s most prominent foreign policy hawks, has died.
- Who will replace Lindsey Graham in the Senate?
CNBC Top News: South Carolina GOP Rep. Nancy Mace and Gov. Henry McMaster are among the first to be floated for the Senate seat vacated by Lindsey Graham.
- Anthony Zurcher: From Trump critic to ally, Lindsey Graham was a political survivor of the Maga era
BBC World: The senator's career was marked by a willingness to adapt to America's dramatically changing political climate, writes the BBC's North America correspondent.
- Who will replace Trump ally Lindsey Graham in the US Senate?
Al Jazeera: The US president suggests he is considering a potential candidate to fill the late senator's seat in South Carolina.
- What made US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham a controversial figure
Al Jazeera: Graham was known for his hawkish views on US defence and foreign policies.
- US senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham dies after 'brief and sudden illness'
BBC World: Donald Trump paid tribute to the 71-year-old South Carolina senator, calling him a "true American patriot" who will be "greatly missed".
- Republican Lindsey Graham dies at 71: World leaders, US politicians react
Al Jazeera: The longtime US senator, an ally of President Trump, was an advocate for using US military force overseas.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham, influential lawmaker and Trump ally, dies at 71 after a brief illness
CNBC Top News: Graham, a prominent Republican senator from South Carolina, was 71. His office announced his death and said he had just returned from a trip to Ukraine.
- US Senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham dies after 'brief and sudden illness'
BBC World: The influential politician had just returned from Kyiv, where he met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.
- US Senator Lindsey Graham dies after 'brief and sudden illness', his office says
BBC World: The influential politician has just returned from Kyiv, where he met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.
- Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Trump ally and foreign policy hawk, dies at 71
NPR News: The Republican lawmaker's office said Graham died Saturday night after a "brief and sudden illness."
- US Senator Lindsey Graham passes away
Al Jazeera: This is a breaking news story.
- Lindsey Graham, one of Israel’s strongest US Senate allies, dies
Al Jazeera: The US Republican senator died of a sudden illness, his office said. He was 71.
- Lindsey Graham, one of Israel’s strongest US Senate allies, dies at 71
Al Jazeera: The US Republican senator died of a sudden illness, his office said. He was 71.