Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died Sunday at the age of 71 following a "brief and sudden illness," according to a statement from his office. Graham, a significant figure in Republican politics and a prominent voice on national security and foreign policy, had served in the Senate since 2003.
President Donald Trump remembered Graham as "always working" and a "true American Patriot." Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., noted Graham's lasting influence on the federal judiciary, national defense, and his home state of South Carolina. Former UN Ambassador Mike Waltz, a fellow military officer, recalled Graham's extensive travel to meet with U.S. troops abroad and his commitment to bringing "ground truth back to legislating."
Graham's passing also drew bipartisan and international reactions. Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., described Graham as "kind, gracious, and thoughtful" and a foreign policy expert, stating that the Senate had lost a "foreign policy giant."
International leaders paid tribute to Graham's role on the world stage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met with Graham in Kyiv the previous week, called him "a true defender of freedom" and a leader who stood with Ukraine "when it was most needed." NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted Graham's advocacy for the NATO Alliance and his efforts to counter Russia's war in Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz referred to Graham as "a true friend and partner of Germany."
In the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Graham "a great friend of Israel" and "a cherished friend of mine," emphasizing Graham's belief that the security of Israel and the United States were inseparable. Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren noted that Graham's death leaves a significant void in Congress for pro-Israel advocacy.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is expected to appoint a temporary replacement for Graham, who was seeking a fifth term in the upcoming November election. Graham's career in the Senate was marked by his evolution from a critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign to one of his closest allies, while maintaining a significant role in debates over judicial appointments and foreign policy issues concerning Ukraine, Israel, and Iran.