Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed details of his final conversation with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham prior to the senator's death on Saturday evening at the age of 71. Graham succumbed to a brief and sudden illness in Washington D.C., according to his office.
During an appearance on Fox & Friends Weekend on Sunday afternoon, Netanyahu recounted that Graham had opposed his suggestion to end U.S. military aid to Israel. "Because he was so concerned with our security, which he believed was your [America’s] security, that he actually fought the prime minister of Israel on keeping America’s aid or actually increasing it, and that tells you what kind of a person this extraordinary, extraordinary friend was," Netanyahu stated.
Despite Netanyahu informing Graham that Israel had "come of age" with a robust economy, the senator maintained his stance on continued U.S. aid. "[I told him] we can take care of our own — financing our own weapons for the defense of Israel and defense of our common interests with America, so I’m going to phase out… the military support for Israel over a period of years and bring it down to zero. We can do it," Netanyahu recalled.
Senator Graham was a consistent supporter of Ukraine and Israel, and provided foreign policy advice to the president concerning Russia and Iran. He had returned from Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Former President Donald Trump also spoke with Graham hours before his death. Trump described Graham as "like a member of the family" and stated that they spoke by phone on Saturday night. Trump noted that Graham was tired but eager to discuss the passage of the SAVE America Act, which Graham co-sponsored. "Well, we’re going to get it done, Lindsey. We’re going to get it done. I’ll see you, like, soon," Trump recalled telling the senator.
The SAVE America Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives three times but has not advanced in the Senate. Graham, who represented South Carolina since 2002, was a close ally of Trump in the Senate, frequently voting to support the former president's agenda.
Trump shared a tribute to Graham on Truth Social shortly after the announcement of his death, calling him "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known" and a "true American Patriot." The president ordered American flags at the White House to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the late senator. Speaking with news networks, Trump also highlighted Graham's defense of Brett Kavanaugh during the 2018 Supreme Court confirmation hearings, calling it an "incredible display" and one of the "top five moments in the history of the senate."