President Donald Trump paid tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) following the South Carolina Republican's death on Saturday at the age of 71. Trump described Graham as a "true American Patriot" and "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known" in a post on Truth Social.
"Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!" Trump added.
Graham's office announced his passing in a statement on social media, attributing his death to a "brief and sudden illness." Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Graham served in the U.S. Senate from 2003 until his death, following a tenure in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 representing South Carolina.
During Trump's first term, Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021. He later became a close ally of the president on Capitol Hill, notably supporting the administration's strikes on Iran, which he argued were necessary to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
The relationship between Trump and Graham evolved significantly over time. Graham was an early critic of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, even running for the Republican nomination himself. However, following the 2016 election, the two developed a close political partnership, with Graham becoming a vocal defender of Trump in the Senate. He supported Trump during both impeachment trials, voting to acquit him each time, and backed Trump's efforts to challenge the 2020 election results. Graham also campaigned with Trump during the 2024 presidential race and was a key advisor on foreign policy and national security matters.