U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican from South Carolina and a close ally of President Donald Trump, dies at 71, his office says. Multiple outlets report that Graham died on Saturday evening following what his communications team described as a “brief and sudden illness.” His office posts the announcement on social media and does not provide further medical details.

Graham has been a long-serving senator, with reporting noting he has held the seat since 2003. In Congress, he is widely described as having evolved into one of Trump’s most loyal allies after earlier periods of criticism. Several accounts also note his active role in advocating a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy and his international engagement, including travel ahead of recent events.

Tributes appear in some coverage from public figures and commentators following the announcement. Separately, one outlet reports that Graham’s death has led to online conspiracy speculation connected to a recent trip to Ukraine, but no official evidence or criminal investigation is reported in the articles provided. Sources consistently attribute the cause of death to the illness statement from his office.