WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s most trusted allies on Capitol Hill, died Saturday night following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” His office shared the news in a statement posted to social media.
Graham was 71 years old. His office, which represents the South Carolina Republican, offered no further explanation about the circumstances of his death.
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement read.
Graham was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and had been in the middle of a campaign for a fifth term. He made a brief bid for the presidency in 2016, during which he clashed with Trump and called him “unfit for office.”
Despite that early friction, Graham went on to become one of Trump’s most visible supporters, frequently speaking with the president and regularly joining him on the golf course.
Graham played a significant role in advising Trump on foreign policy, particularly regarding Iran and Russia. Just one day before his death, on Friday, he had announced an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions.
He had recently been in Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It was Graham’s tenth visit to the country, and Zelenskyy acknowledged the trip, thanking him for “recognizing our warriors.”
Graham’s interest in Iran policy stretched back decades. As a member of the U.S. House in the 1990s, he championed efforts to isolate Iran and restrict its missile and nuclear programs. He publicly supported Trump’s decision to strike nuclear sites last year and backed the more recent conflict that began a few months ago.
At the time of his death, Graham was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, a position that placed him at the center of major legislative efforts during Trump’s second term. Republicans used a Senate process called reconciliation — which his committee oversaw — to pass significant legislation, including last year’s tax law, without facing a Democratic filibuster.
Graham had previously chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 2020 confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. He was also in position to potentially reclaim that role if Republicans retained Senate control following this year’s midterm elections.
The brief and unexplained nature of Graham’s office statement has drawn attention at a time when there is growing concern about transparency surrounding the health of elected officials. Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a New Jersey Republican, was absent from Congress for several months without explanation before returning and revealing he had been diagnosed with depression. Separately, Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, was recently hospitalized for undisclosed health reasons.
