Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of US President Donald Trump's closest political allies and a leading voice on American foreign policy, has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness."

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A statement released by Graham's office said he died on Saturday evening. His family requested privacy during "this incredibly difficult period."

The South Carolina senator had recently returned from Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. There had been no public indication of any health concerns before the trip.

Leading Republican Voice

Graham was first elected to the US Senate in 2002 and went on to become one of Washington's most influential Republican lawmakers, particularly on national security and foreign policy. He also served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

A long-time advocate for strong US support for Ukraine, Graham had been working on a new version of a Russia sanctions bill during his latest visit to Kyiv. He said the legislation would provide "tools to President Trump to end this war."

President Donald Trump paid tribute to his longtime ally in a social media post, describing Graham as a "true American Patriot."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was "deeply saddened" by the senator's death.

Writing on X, Zelensky said Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia's full-scale invasion began and had stood "with our people when it was most needed."

"America and the world have lost a determined leader," Zelensky added.

From Critic to Close Ally

Graham's relationship with Trump underwent a dramatic transformation over the past decade.

During the 2016 presidential campaign, he was one of Trump's harshest Republican critics. In a 2015 interview with CNN, Graham described Trump as "a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot." He also warned on social media that nominating Trump would lead Republicans to defeat.

Following the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, Graham appeared to distance himself from the president.

"Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way," he said in a speech on the Senate floor. "All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough."

Despite those remarks, Graham later became one of Trump's strongest supporters. He voted against convicting Trump during his 2021 impeachment trial and backed his successful 2024 presidential campaign.

In a 2023 interview with the BBC, Graham acknowledged what he called Trump's "dark side" but said he continued to support him because of his record on border security, the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and the appointment of conservative judges.

Strong Foreign Policy Advocate

Throughout his Senate career, Graham was known for advocating a robust US role in global security.

He strongly opposed the 2021 withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, calling it "a sad and dangerous event for US national security" and warning that extremist groups would view it as a sign of American weakness.

Graham was also a staunch supporter of Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute on Sunday, saying Graham understood that "the security of Israel and America are inseparable."

"Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable," Netanyahu said, adding that Israel had lost "one of its greatest friends."

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12 July 2026

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A day after returning from a meeting with Zelensky he suddenly dies, Navalnyized perhaps?

Kids at Disney world will be safer.

https://www.bizpacreview.com/2026/03/31/lindsey-graham-brutally-mocked-for-post-disney-photo-1630215/

RIP to a great Senator. If the rest of them were half as good as he was, we would have a very different country. Nuff Said. Peace

Graham died from botulism, rotten meat in the can 🤣

1 minute ago, maxx58 said:

Graham died from botulism

Well, indirectly.

Trump told him he didn't like what he just ate for lunch so Miss Lindsay volunteered to go looking for it and got lost amid all the Kentucky fried chicken and McDonald's in there and ran out of breath and suffocated to death. The botulism just capitalized on that. 😀

6 minutes ago, maxx58 said:

Graham died from botulism, rotten meat in the can 🤣

Well, there's one hawk less.

R.I.P.

A low value post and a reply has been removed:

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It took awhile but drinking all that Kool-Aid caught up with him. A huge hypocrite and, from an enormous group to choose from, quite possibly the biggest Trump a** licker other than Vance, he won't be missed.

That is a blessing for the US and the rest of the world.

Good riddance to the war monger.

Hope it happens to a few more of them.

NYT on cause of death

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/12/us/politics/lindsey-graham-final-days.html

14 hours ago, novacova said:

A day after returning from a meeting with Zelensky he suddenly dies, Navalnyized perhaps?

Are you saying that the Russians are responsible same as Alexei Navalny? A little far fetched but Graham was a war hawk and the Russians did hate him.

11 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

RIP to a great Senator. If the rest of them were half as good as he was, we would have a very different country. Nuff Said. Peace

Absolutely true. Too many in congress that have little discipline.

20 minutes ago, Deerculler said:

That is a blessing for the US and the rest of the world.

Good riddance to the war monger.

Hope it happens to a few more of them.

The one and only thing I liked about Linsey was his support for Ukraine other than that good riddance. he was the definition of a groveling boot licker I could think of a few more definitions for him but I don’t want the mods mad at me……now with Linsey dead and Mitch MIA that senate majority is now in play….hummm…….interesting times.

I don’t have very much to say about LG, and nothing good to say about the man. I wonder what happened to John McCain’s friend. What made him do a 180º turn toward supporting Trump? For me he will be remembered by this quote. “If we nominate Trump we will get destroyed . . . . and we will deserve it.

Not the U.S. Senator’s death I was expecting to be announced. Now, what about definitive proof of life for Sen. McConnell? Medical privacy OK but life or death transparency should not be covered by this. Being a voter in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, ?I have a right to know if I have a serving Senator.

A chance for South Carolinians to choose someone working for them and not foreign countries and weapon makers.

He knew too much, just like Epstein.

This is what Trump posted when Mueller died:

“Robert Mueller just died”. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”

Am I allowed to say the same about Graham? Or am I going to get a lot of (the usual) selective outrage from the MAGA crowd here?

Anyway, no big loss for humanity. Mitch McConnell is apparently on his way out the door as well. Good. Hope the Democrats manage to flip both seats.

16 hours ago, novacova said:

he suddenly dies

He didn't suddenly die.

1 hour ago, AustinRacing said:

A chance for South Carolinians to choose someone

Unfortunately, the fascist billionaires will choose someone like Graham.

13 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

we would have a very different country

Yes, it would be the Socialist Peoples of America.

Missed your birthday, Lindsey, so let me make it up by saying HAPPY DEATH DAY, MOFO.

Poppers?

1 hour ago, AustinRacing said:

A chance for South Carolinians to choose someone working for them and not foreign countries and weapon makers.

Stephen Colbert is a SC native, maybe he should . . .

He wouldn't, IMO.

Good riddance! Should’ve happened decades ago!

17 hours ago, Explorator en Action said:

RIP to a great Senator. If the rest of them were half as good as he was, we would have a very different country. Nuff Said. Peace

Good riddance. He was a scumbag, and so are his followers. The sad part is, he and his followers have offsprings. Makes you wonder what kind of loser women would hook up with these lowlifes.

4 minutes ago, BMW Overlander said:

Good riddance. He was a scumbag, and so are his followers. The sad part is, he and his followers have offsprings. Makes you wonder what kind of loser women would hook up with these lowlifes.

oGood riddance. He was a scumbag, and so are his followers. The sad part is, he and his followers have offsprings. Makes you wonder what kind of loser women would hook up with these lowlifes.

6 minutes ago, BMW Overlander said:

Jeez, who pissed in your corn flakes this morning. Another one in the Bit Bucket - have a good life, I have no time for folks like you.

4 hours ago, Srikcir said:

He didn't suddenly die.

Did Lindsay leave a note on who to bomb if he got assassinated ❓

14 minutes ago, BMW Overlander said:

The sad part is, he and his followers have offsprings.

Nope.

Lindsey Graham never married and did not have any children of his own.

He was a Bachelor WINK WINK 😜