Veteran Republican senator, foreign policy hawk and close Trump ally dies after brief illness, prompting tributes from political leaders in the US and abroad

United States Senator Lindsey Graham, the veteran South Carolina Republican, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and one of President Donald Trump’s closest political allies, died on Saturday evening following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” He was 71.

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A statement issued by Graham’s office said the senator’s family requested privacy as they mourned the loss but did not disclose the cause of death or provide additional medical details.

President Donald Trump led the tributes, describing Graham as one of the finest lawmakers he had known.

“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” Trump wrote on social media. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also paid tribute, saying Graham dedicated his career to advancing American interests around the world.

“My heart is heavy this morning to learn the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Thune said, praising the senator’s long military and congressional service and his unwavering belief in American leadership.

The news came only days after Graham travelled to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his 10th visit to Ukraine.

The senator had reaffirmed his support for Ukraine and had recently announced progress on a bipartisan package of tougher sanctions targeting Russia.

First elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving four terms in the House of Representatives, Graham built a reputation as one of Washington’s most influential voices on national security and foreign policy.

A former Air Force lawyer and Gulf War veteran, he consistently advocated robust American engagement overseas and supported military action against adversaries including Iran.

Although Graham sharply criticised Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, calling him unfit for office at the time, the relationship evolved into one of the closest political alliances in modern Republican politics.

Graham became a trusted adviser on defence and foreign affairs and was frequently seen alongside the president at public events and on the golf course.

Beyond foreign policy, Graham left a significant legislative footprint on Capitol Hill. As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee during Trump’s second term, he oversaw the reconciliation process that enabled Republicans to pass major legislation with a simple majority.

He also previously chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, overseeing the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court in 2020.

Earlier in his Senate career, Graham emerged as a key member of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” which drafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation in 2013.

Although the measure passed the Senate, it was never approved by the House of Representatives.

His support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants often placed him at odds with sections of his own party.

Graham had recently secured the Republican nomination for another Senate term after defeating primary challengers and was preparing to face Democratic candidate Annie Andrews in the November election.

Throughout the campaign, he repeatedly highlighted his close relationship with Trump as a cornerstone of his political platform.

His death has also renewed discussion in Washington about transparency surrounding the health of elected officials, following recent concerns over the undisclosed medical conditions of several members of Congress.

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With more than two decades in the Senate and a career spanning military service, the House of Representatives and some of the most consequential policy debates of the past generation, Graham leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the Republican Party’s most recognisable and influential figures.