WASHINGTON: Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and influential foreign policy voice who evolved from a critic to a close ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday following a brief illness. He was 71.
Graham’s office announced his death in a statement posted to his official X account, saying he passed away “on the evening of Saturday, July 11, from a brief and sudden illness.” No further details about the cause or location of his death were immediately released.
First elected to the U.S. House in 1994, Graham served three terms in the lower chamber before winning his Senate seat in 2002. He was reelected in 2008, 2014 and 2020, solidifying his status as a fixture of South Carolina politics. At the time of his death, he served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
Graham’s relationship with Trump was marked by sharp turns: He was a fierce critic during the 2016 presidential campaign, calling Trump names and warning of his unfitness for office.
Yet after Trump’s election, Graham became one of his most reliable defenders in the Senate, advising him on judicial nominations, national security and Middle East policy. He stood by Trump during both impeachment trials and remained a frequent golf companion and informal counselor.
