US Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71 After 'Brief and Sudden Illness'

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has died after a short and unexpected illness, according to a statement from his office. His family has asked for prayers and privacy as they mourn his passing.

Graham, who had represented South Carolina in the US Senate since 2002, was a prominent figure in Washington, particularly on foreign policy issues. He was widely known as a close supporter of former President Donald Trump and a leading voice on national security matters.

The senator had recently returned from a visit to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Officials had not reported any previous health concerns before the trip.

President Donald Trump paid tribute to Graham following the news, describing him as a “true American Patriot.”

During his Senate career, Graham also served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and played a major role in shaping debates on international affairs.

A vocal supporter of continued US aid to Ukraine, Graham repeatedly warned that Russia’s ambitions extended beyond Ukraine. In a 2023 BBC interview, he argued that weakening support for Ukraine could have wider global consequences, including for Taiwan.

During his latest visit to Ukraine, Graham was involved in discussions over a proposed Russia sanctions package that he said would provide President Trump with additional tools to help bring the conflict to an end.

Although Graham had disagreements with Trump in the past, he eventually became one of the former president’s strongest allies. In previous comments, he acknowledged what he described as “a dark side” to Trump but said he continued to support him because of policies he credited to Trump’s presidency, including border security measures, the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, and the appointment of conservative judges.