US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has passed away at the age of 71, his office confirmed. The senator died on Saturday evening following what was described as a “brief and sudden illness.” In a formal statement, his family requested privacy during this difficult time and expressed appreciation for the public’s prayers.
Graham served as a representative for the state of South Carolina and had been a fixture in the United States Senate since his election in 2002. Before entering the Senate, he established his professional career as a lawyer in the US Air Force. At the time of his death, he was serving as the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
A notable figure in the Republican Party, Graham was particularly active in foreign policy discussions. He had recently returned from a trip to Ukraine, where he held meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address ongoing support for Kyiv and the implementation of sanctions against Russia.
Beyond his committee work, Graham was recognized as a close political ally of US President Donald Trump. In June, President Trump endorsed Graham for re-election to the Senate, characterizing him as a “wonderful friend” who had “always been there when I needed him.”
Graham’s legislative record also included recent engagement on international agreements. He had publicly expressed skepticism regarding Washington’s memorandum of understanding with Tehran. Graham stated he was “concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming.” However, he later noted in a social media post that after further discussion, he believed the signing of the memorandum would be beneficial to the United States, suggesting it could help open the Strait of Hormuz and reduce hostilities with Iran.
