Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died on Saturday evening at the age of 71, his office announced. He had initially been reported to have suffered a "brief and sudden illness."
According to preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner, Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. An aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition in which a tear develops in the wall of the aorta, the body's main artery.
An emergency call made from the senator's residence on Saturday night reportedly referred to a cardiac arrest. Emergency responders were dispatched to his Capitol Hill home before he was taken to hospital.
“The family of Senator Graham asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult time,” his office said.
Graham had recently returned from Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. He had also been scheduled to appear on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Graham after his return from Ukraine and that, aside from feeling tired, he appeared well. Paying tribute, Trump described him as “one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known” and “a true American patriot.”
Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” by Graham's death, highlighting the senator's 10 visits to Ukraine during the war and his strong support for the country's defence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had lost one of its greatest friends, while the United States had lost a great patriot. President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked and devastated by the sudden death of a close friend and steadfast supporter of Israel.
Born in Central, South Carolina, on July 9, 1955, Graham lost both parents while in his early twenties and became the legal guardian of his 13-year-old sister, Darline.
After earning a law degree from the University of South Carolina, he served as an Air Force lawyer before entering private practice. He later served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and the US House before being elected to the Senate in 2002. He went on to win re-election three times.
Graham became one of Congress' most prominent voices on foreign policy, advocating a hard line on Iran and Russia and strongly backing Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion. His close ties with fellow senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman earned the trio the nickname the "Three Amigos".
Although initially a sharp critic of Trump, Graham later became one of the president's closest allies in Congress. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he played a leading role in the confirmation of Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
Under South Carolina law, Republican Governor Henry McMaster will appoint an interim successor to serve until January 3, 2027. A permanent replacement will be elected in the November 3, 2026 midterm elections.
Source: CNA
