South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott became emotional when remembering his late colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham, describing him as "irreplaceable." Graham died suddenly Saturday night at age 71, according to a statement from his office. His death has sent ripples of shock through the Senate, affecting colleagues across both parties.
Scott and Graham served together in the Senate for 13 years. Scott told ABC News' "This Week" that Graham welcomed him to the Senate as the first Black senator from South Carolina and remained a close friend, even attending Scott's wedding. "He was one of only three or four senators I invited to my wedding because Lindsey Graham had become a part of the family," Scott said. "It is a rare thing in politics, a rare thing in life to find people who are actually your friend."
Scott also reflected on Graham's commitment to public service, stating, "I don't know another person who spent their entire adult life for one purpose: to make sure America remains the safest country on the planet to live." He added that Graham was deeply committed to both his family and the nation.
Graham's final public activities included a recent trip to Ukraine, his tenth, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and visited a drone manufacturer. Zelenskyy posted a video of their meeting on X, thanking Graham for his support and acknowledging his dedication to Ukraine's warriors.
Initially a rival to Donald Trump during the 2015 Republican presidential primary, Graham later became a staunch ally of the former president, supporting key policies and actions, including the Iran situation. Trump expressed his grief on social media, calling Graham "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known" and a "true American Patriot."