WASHINGTON: Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after a brief and sudden illness, his office said, ending a Senate career that made him a leading Republican voice on foreign policy.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died Saturday evening, according to his office. The Associated Press reported that his family requested privacy.
He had served in the US Senate since 2003 after four terms in the House of Representatives. He also served on major Senate committees, including the Judiciary and Armed Services committees. In South Carolina, the Republican had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and was one of the state’s longest-serving elected officials.
President Donald Trump called Graham a “true American Patriot” on Truth Social. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Graham was a trusted adviser and colleague.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Graham was a “true defender of freedom” and noted that the senator had visited Ukraine 10 times during Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had lost “one of its greatest friends,” citing Graham’s support for the US-Israel alliance.
Graham retired as a US Air Force Reserve colonel in 2015 after 33 years of military service, AP reported. He remained active in foreign policy until shortly before his death.
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South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement for Graham’s current term, Roll Call reported. A separate process will determine the Republican nominee for the November election.
NBC News host Kristen Welker said Graham had been scheduled to appear on “Meet the Press” on Sunday before his death.
