(FILES) US Senator Lindsey Graham delivers a statement following a meeting with Lebanon's president at the Presidential Palace in Baabda on August 26, 2025. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a key ally of US President Donald Trump, died on July 11, 2026, at the age of 71 following "a brief and sudden illness," his office announced on its official X account on July 12. "Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!," US President wrote in a post on Truth Social in reaction to Graham's death. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
Prominent United States Senator Lindsey Graham has died at the age of 71 after a brief illness, according to a statement from his office.
His office announced on X that the South Carolina Republican passed away on Saturday, July 11, following a “brief and sudden illness.”
The statement said, “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
Graham began his career in Congress after winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994.
He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and secured re-election in 2008, 2014 and 2020.
Before his death, he served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and remained one of President Donald Trump’s closest political allies.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster paid tribute to the late senator, describing him as “The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend.”
Graham was also widely known for his strong support for Israel and his hawkish position on Iran.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was “shocked and heartbroken” by the senator’s death and described him as “a beacon of moral clarity and a true leader of the U.S.-Israel partnership.”
Herzog added, “We will never forget how he stood by the people of Israel in our most difficult moments, and we will remain eternally grateful for his sense of justice, truth, and loyalty,” saying “The people of Israel mourn his loss, and I will miss my great friend very dearly.”
