Us Senator Lindsey Graham Dies At 71 After Brief Illness

US Senator Lindsey Graham has died at the age of 71 after a brief illness. The longtime Republican lawmaker was known for his strong support for Ukraine, Israel and NATO, and received tributes from President Donald Trump and world leaders who praised his decades of public service and influence on US foreign policy.

US Senator Lindsey Graham has died at the age of 71 after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness.
The veteran Republican senator from South Carolina died on Saturday evening, according to a statement released by his office on X. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Graham had recently returned from a visit to Ukraine before falling ill.

LONG CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE

Before entering politics, Graham served as a lawyer in the US Air Force.
He was stationed at Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Germany between 1984 and 1988 and later helped prepare military personnel for deployment during the Gulf War.
He entered politics in 1994 when he was elected to the US House of Representatives.
In 2002, he was elected to the US Senate, where he represented South Carolina for more than two decades. He was re-elected in 2008, 2014 and 2020.

EVOLVING POLITICAL CAREER

Graham strongly supported the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
During the 2016 presidential campaign, he was initially a vocal critic of Donald Trump, but later became one of Trump's closest allies in the Senate.
He remained an influential Republican voice on foreign policy and national security throughout his political career.

STRONG SUPPORTER OF US ALLIES

Graham was one of the Senate's strongest supporters of Israel and Ukraine.
He consistently backed military and diplomatic support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion and supported NATO at a time when some members of his party questioned the alliance.
He also advocated for Kurdish forces in their fight against the Islamic State group and supported a tougher US approach toward Iran.

TRIBUTES FROM WORLD LEADERS

President Donald Trump described Graham as "a true American patriot" and said he would be greatly missed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called him one of Israel's greatest friends and said he had lost a close personal friend.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Graham's repeated visits to Ukraine during the war and described him as a determined defender of freedom.
Leaders from Europe, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, also paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his commitment to transatlantic cooperation, NATO and support for Ukraine.

LASTING LEGACY

Lindsey Graham leaves behind a long career in American politics marked by his focus on national security, military affairs and foreign policy.
Known for his outspoken views and willingness to work on major international issues, he played a significant role in shaping US foreign policy debates for more than two decades.
His death marks the end of one of the most influential Republican careers in the US Senate.