U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican and long-time ally of President Donald Trump, has died at age 71 after a sudden illness, his office said. Multiple outlets report that Graham died on Saturday evening and that his family requested privacy. Graham had served in the Senate since 2003 and represented South Carolina. He was widely known for a prominent role in U.S. foreign policy, often advocating strong military and interventionist approaches, particularly regarding Iran. Sources describe him as a staunch supporter of Israel and as a vocal defender of Israel during the Gaza war, while criticizing efforts to limit U.S. support. Graham also supported U.S. assistance to Ukraine and previously warned about the wider ambitions of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. Although he sometimes criticized Trump earlier in their political relationship, outlets also note that Graham later became one of Trump’s dedicated supporters, including endorsing Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. Graham’s office did not provide further medical details, and outlets focus their reporting on his death announcement and his long record in U.S. politics and foreign policy.
Lindsey Graham, Trump ally and foreign policy hawk, dies at 71
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican and long-time ally of President Donald Trump, has died at age 71 after a sudden illness, his office said. Multiple outlets report that Graham died on Saturday...
- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham dies at age 71 following a brief/sudden illness, according to his office.
- Graham’s office says he died on Saturday evening and his family requests privacy.
- He has served in the U.S. Senate since 2003, representing South Carolina.
- He is described across sources as a longtime Trump ally and a prominent foreign policy hawk, including advocating pressure or military action related to Iran.
- Sources also describe him as a longtime supporter of Israel and as a vocal defender of Israel’s actions during the Gaza war, while backing U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
US Senator Lindsey Graham dies after 'brief illness' Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the most significant voices on US foreign policy and a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following a brief illness, his office announced on Sunday. A statement from Graham's office said he died on Saturday evening and that his family had requested privacy. First elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham regularly courted intense international criticism for his pro-war rhetoric and interventionist foreign policy. He served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was a prominent voice on issues ranging from Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Trump paid tribute to Graham in a social media post, describing him as a "true American patriot". Read more: Lindsey Graham, staunch backer of Israel and US wars, dies aged 71 US Senator Lindsey Graham arrives at a rally with President Donald Trump in Charlotte, North Carolina, 2 March 2020 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP)
1 hour agoLindsey Graham, staunch backer of Israel and US wars, dies aged 71 Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 07/12/2026 - 10:39 The longtime senator was one of Washington's most vocal supporters of military action against Iran US Senator Lindsey Graham arrives at a rally with President Donald Trump in Charlotte, North Carolina, 2 March 2020 (Brendan Smialowski/AFP) Off Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the most significant voices on US foreign policy and a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following a brief illness, his office announced on Sunday. A statement from Graham's office said he died on Saturday evening and that his family had requested privacy. First elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham regularly courted intense international criticism for his pro-war rhetoric and interventionist foreign policy. He served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was a prominent voice on issues ranging from Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Trump paid tribute to Graham in a social media post, describing him as a "true American patriot". Graham had returned from Kyiv only days before his death, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and discussed legislation to increase pressure on Russia. He was among the strongest congressional advocates of US military assistance to Ukraine. In 2023, he warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions extended beyond Ukraine. "Putin will not stop in Ukraine," Graham told the BBC. "To be weak in Ukraine means that you lose in Taiwan." 'Hateful and absurd' Although Graham frequently clashed with Trump, including after the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol, he later emerged as one of the president's most dedicated supporters and endorsed his 2024 presidential campaign. "Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way," Graham said in a Senate speech following the Capitol riot. "All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough." He later reversed course, telling the BBC in 2023: "There is a dark side to Donald Trump … and he was a very good president. But I am sticking with him because I saw what he did." Syria critic Lindsey Graham now thinks Trump's policy might actually work Read More » Graham backed Israel in the US Congress and called for increased military assistance to Tel Aviv alongside increased aid for illegal settlements. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterised him as a close friend of Israel, while President Isaac Herzog declared Graham's support for the country had been unwavering. Throughout Israel's genocidal war in Gaza, Graham repeatedly defended Israeli military actions and opposed efforts to restrict US support for Israel. His comments frequently drew criticism from Palestinian rights advocates, human rights groups and Muslim civil rights organisations. In July 2024, Graham described Palestinians in Gaza as "the most radicalized population on the planet who are taught to hate Jews from birth" in a social media post that sparked widespread condemnation. The Council on American-Islamic Relations responded by saying that he was promoting racist stereotypes about Palestinians, calling his comments "hateful and absurd". Graham also drew flak for suggesting that Israel should consider measures comparable to those used by the United States against Japan during World War Two, remarks that opponents described as inflammatory. In 2019, during a visit to the occupied Golan Heights, Graham called Israel's security and prosperity vital to US national security and advocated recognition of Israeli control over the territory. Lindsey Graham met Saudi leader to 'bring him on board' a week before Iran attack Read More » Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, said earlier this year that Graham was among US officials who threatened him over the court's pursuit of arrest warrants for Israeli leaders. More recently, he was a vocal supporter of a hardline military approach toward Iran. During the US-Iran conflict, Graham repeatedly urged the White House to use military force to secure the Strait of Hormuz and compared the confrontation with Tehran to Britain's struggle against Nazi Germany. Graham also drew criticism from Gulf states for his positions on the Middle East. In March, he blamed Saudi Arabia for refusing to join the US-Israeli war against Iran and warned of potential "consequences" for countries that declined to support military action against Tehran. His confrontational manner also generated diplomatic controversy in Europe. In 2025, Norwegian officials moved to defuse tensions after Graham threatened consequences following a decision by Norway's sovereign wealth fund to divest from companies linked to Israel's war in Gaza. Obituary News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0
2 hours agoLindsey Graham, who died on Saturday at 71, was known for his firm support of Israel and his tough stance on Iran
4 hours agoLindsey Graham, key Trump ally, dies after sudden illness US Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of Donald Trump, a staunch Israel supporter, and a foreign policy hawk who advocated for military intervention against Iran, has died from a sudden illness, his office said in the early hours of Sunday. He had just turned 71. He has served in the Senate since 2003, representing South Carolina. In May this year, Graham threatened Saudi Arabia and other Arab and Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords as a price to pay for ending the Israeli-US war on Iran.
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