Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, died Saturday evening according to his office of “a brief and sudden illness” at the age of 71.
A former Air Force lawyer, Graham was a proponent of a strong national defense and was a supporter and close political ally of President Donald Trump.
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” said a brief statement from his office announcing his death.
Trump called Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.”
“He was always working, and was a true American Patriot,” Trump added. “Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said “my heart is heavy this morning to learn the passing of my friend and colleague.”
Thune said Graham was “a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe. He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause.”
Graham was scheduled to appear on Meet the Press on Sunday morning — an engagement that would have been 64th appearance on this broadcast, according to moderator Kristen Welker.
“We are sending our deepest condolences to his family and colleagues,” she said.
Graham, who ran for the presidency in 2016, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 as the first Republican from the 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina since 1877. He first won his U.S. Senate seat in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. He had just won his Republican primary on June 9.
Graham’s death followed two meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ukraine last week. Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” by Graham’s death and noted that the senator has visited Ukraine 10 times since 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
“Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,” Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post.
The two leaders remained in constant dialogue, “and I will miss our conversations,” Zelenskyy wrote. “America and the world have lost a determined leader.”
Utah Sen. John Curtis said Graham “leaves behind a legacy of devoted service to our nation and South Carolina. More than just one of the most influential leaders in Washington, Lindsey was among the strongest defenders of America and its values across the world.”
Curtis said as a new member of the Senate, he will always be grateful for the kindness Graham showed to his. “He went out of his way to make me feel welcome and valued, treating me as though I had been there for years. That generosity of spirit spoke volumes about the kind of person he was. His impact is felt deeply by me and our colleagues in the Senate, and his influence will surely continue for generations.I am stunned and saddened by his loss. Sue and I offer our prayers for his family, his staff, and the people of South Carolina as they mourn this tremendous loss.”
Utah Sen. Mike Lee wrote he was saddened to learn of the sudden passing of his “friend and colleague.” Graham’s “humor and dedication will be greatly missed in the U.S. Senate.”
Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, said that “for most of my public service in Congress, I had the privilege of calling Lindsey Graham not only a colleague in both the House and Senate, but a loyal and generous friend.
“He was a formidable public servant who held the line on issues important to him and South Carolinians with unwavering courage. As an Air Force veteran and foreign policy hawk, he traveled the world demonstrating America’s strength and resolve. To our nation’s allies, he was a friend. To our adversaries, he was unflinching.”
At the time of his death, Graham was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Graham also serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
A native South Carolinian, Graham grew up in a blue collar family in the small town of Central where his parents ran a restaurant and pool hall, according to his Senate biography. The first member of his family to go to college, Graham earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. He was a member of Corinth Baptist Church.