US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died Saturday following a brief illness at the age of 71, his office confirmed.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” Graham’s office said on X on Sunday morning.
A cause of death was not immediately revealed.
US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has died at age 71. He was seen speaking to the media in Ukraine on July 10, 2026. REUTERS
Emergency officials responded to Graham’s Capitol Hill home at around 8:30 p.m. when they received a report about an individual suffering from chest pains, the Washington Post reported, citing police scanner audio.
Officials performed CPR on the man as he went into cardiac arrest nearly a half hour later and was rushed to George Washington University Hospital, according to the outlet.
Graham, a staunch ally of President Trump, was scheduled to appear on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday morning.
The septuagenarian had shown no signs of feeling unwell before his death, a staffer told NBC News.
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! Trump mourned on Truth Social. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!
Trump said that funeral details and arrangements for Graham will be revealed in the coming days.
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to the press alongside President Donald Trump during an event in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 3, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
US Senate Candidate Lindsey Graham speaks during an appearance on “Meet the Press” on Oct. 13, 2002. Getty Images
Graham, whose birthday was Thursday, had just returned to the US after a trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the ongoing war against Russia.
Zelensky hosted Graham on Friday, where the two had a “really good meeting” inside the presidential palace in Kyiv.
“Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,” Zelensky wrote on X Sunday. “He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed.
“A staunch advocate for bipartisan and bicameral support for Ukraine, in recent weeks, he had been working on important initiatives that could help bring peace closer, including stronger sanctions against Russia. We will always be especially grateful for the recognition of our people and words of admiration for the courage of Ukraine’s defenders. America and the world have lost a determined leader,” he added.
Senator Lindsey Graham and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky met on July 10, 2026. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images
Sen. Lindsey Graham meets with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 18, 2026. via REUTERS
The Seneca, South Carolina, resident has represented the Palmetto State in the US Senate since 2003, succeeding outgoing 100-year-old Strom Thurmond.
He held key positions in the upper chamber, including as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
Graham has been a fierce critic of Iran and has introduced several bills aimed at limiting the Islamic regime’s nuclear capabilities and isolating the rogue nation.
He has regularly advocated for extending Trump’s wartime powers as the US negotiated a cease-fire with Iran in hopes of reopening the Strait of Hormuz while ensuring Iran doesn’t rebuild its nuclear program.
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned Graham’s death as Israel losing “one of its greatest friends.”
“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,’” Netanyahu said. “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.
“Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,” he added.
Sen. Lindsey Graham and US Ambassador David Friedman visit the Israeli-Syria border with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 11, 2019. REUTERS
Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. John McCain outside during a press conference in an undated photo. POOL/CNP / SplashNews.com
Graham was seeking his fifth Senate term and won the South Carolina GOP primary on June 9, receiving a majority, 56.78%, of the vote against five challengers.
Because Graham died as the state party’s Senate nominee, Republican officials will hold a special primary election, according to state election law.
No date for the special election has been announced.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster may fill Graham’s vacancy to serve out the remainder of the term until the next Congress convenes in January.
Before his four-term Senate career, Graham represented South Carolina’s third congressional district in the US House between 1995 and 2003.
Graham had served in the US Air Force as an active duty lawyer, retiring in 2015 as a colonel with the Air Force Reserves.
Sen. Lindsey Graham greets President Donald Trump during a rally at Bojangles’ Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 2, 2020. AFP via Getty Images
Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks with President Barack Obama during a meeting in an undated photo. POOL/CNP / SplashNews.com
President Donald Trump listens as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina Statehouse, on Jan. 28, 2023. AP
Sen. Tim Scott, Graham’s junior senator from South Carolina, remembered his “friend” for his “levity and wit”
“South Carolina lost a statesman and I’ve lost a friend,” Scott wrote on X. “My prayers are with his sister and the rest of his family.
“From his humble beginnings to the Senate floor, Lindsey always led with faith, family, and South Carolina first. Lindsey remained committed to public service and doing what he loved. He always introduced levity and brought wit to the most challenging moments. Lindsey will be missed,” he said.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster described Graham as “irreplaceable” and the “fiercest of fighters.”
“Peggy and I—and our children—are devastated. Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America—and a loyal and steadfast friend. We grieve with Darline, his family and his devoted staff. May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again,” McMaster wrote on X.
