Politics

Lindsey Graham Dead At 71

(Screenshot/Fox News Sunday)

Longtime Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham died Saturday night,  just two days after his 71st birthday.

Graham, widely known for his hawkish foreign policy stance, had represented the Palmetto State in the Senate since 2003 when he succeeded 100-year-old segregationist Strom Thurmond. Graham died from “a brief and sudden illness” that was previously unreported, according to a statement posted by the lawmaker’s X account early Sunday morning.

“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement adds.

President Donald Trump, who had endorsed Graham’s reelection bid, called the deceased Republican “a true American Patriot” and “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” in a Truth Social post.

Statement from the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). pic.twitter.com/CQ5yVvqTH1

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 12, 2026

Graham earned a reputation in the Senate as a staunch and vocal supporter of U.S. involvement in foreign conflicts, including wars in Iraq, Iran, and Ukraine. He was also a strong proponent of the U.S. relationship with Israel.

Graham notably told former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly in March that “you can blame me” if the U.S. operation in Iran fails. Nearly two months before Operation Epic Fury kicked off, Graham appeared on Fox News donning a “Make Iran Great Again” hat.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy eulogized the late senator in a Sunday morning X post, writing, “America and the world have lost a determined leader.” Zelenskyy also noted he and Graham “met twice” in the week before the lawmaker’s sudden passing.

“[Graham] visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed,” Zelenskyy wrote. “We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations.”

Deeply saddened by the news of the passing of United States Senator Lindsey Graham. Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.

He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it… pic.twitter.com/7oE2F5ZDAy

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 12, 2026

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also paid tribute to Graham, writing on X, “America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.”

“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world,” Netanyahu continued.

The lifelong bachelor served as a Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps officer in the U.S. Air Forc after graduating law school. After seven years of active duty, he went on to serve in the South Carolina Air National Guard and then the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He retired from the military in 2015, 12 years into his Senate tenure.

Before his election to the Senate, Graham served in the House for four terms representing South Carolina’s Third Congressional District. He was first elected in the GOP wave year of 1994, flipping a seat which had been in Democratic hands since Reconstruction.

Sara and I grieve with the American people over the loss of our dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham.

In our recent meeting, I said, “Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine. We have no better friend than Lindsey.”

Lindsey understood that the security… pic.twitter.com/JG2mUUAfFT

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) July 12, 2026

In 2016, he mounted an ill-fated run for the Republican presidential nomination, but withdrew before the primaries after polling at only 1%. While running against him for president, then-candidate Trump famously gave out Graham’s personal cell phone number, encouraging his supporters to “try it.”

Months before his passing, Graham made headlines when he was spotted dining at Chef Mickey’s in Walt Disney World while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was partially shut down.

Graham justified his trip, telling the Daily Caller at the time, “I was invited to a lunch in South Florida on Friday with Trump official Steve Witkoff and many others to talk about the possibility of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.”

He added that he “went to Orlando to meet friends after.”

Prior to his passing, Graham was running for reelection to what would have been his fifth term in the Senate. Since he already won the regularly scheduled June 9 primary, a fast-tracked special primary election will be held to pick a replacement GOP nominee.

Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement for Graham to immediately succeed him in the Senate.