Sen. Lindsey Graham, Longtime South Carolina Republican and Key Trump Ally, Dies at 71

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) died Saturday night after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness. He was 71.

Graham's office confirmed his death early Sunday, ending a Senate career that began in 2003 and capped more than three decades in South Carolina and national politics. He had been running for reelection this year.

A Long Career in Washington

Born July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina, Graham grew up helping his parents run a small restaurant and pool hall in the town. He was the first in his family to attend college, earning both a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of South Carolina. He went on to serve as an Air Force JAG Corps attorney, including a stint as the Air Force's chief prosecutor in Europe during the 1980s.

Graham entered politics in the South Carolina House before winning election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. He moved to the U.S. Senate in 2003 and went on to serve 23 years representing South Carolina.

During his Senate tenure, Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021 and built a reputation as one of the chamber's most prominent voices on foreign policy and defense. He was a consistent advocate for an assertive, interventionist U.S. role abroad, pushing for strong support of Israel and a hawkish posture toward Iran, and remained an outspoken supporter of Ukraine ΓÇö he had reportedly been in Kyiv just days before his death.

From Trump Critic to Trump Ally

Graham's relationship with Donald Trump shifted dramatically over the years. He was a vocal critic of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and briefly sought the Republican presidential nomination himself before dropping out early in that race. But after meeting with Trump following the election, Graham became one of his closest allies in the Senate, a bond frequently built around rounds of golf and frequent phone calls. President Trump paid tribute to Graham following the news of his death.

Graham's earlier alliance with the late Sen. John McCain, whom he once described as one of his "dearest friends," also shaped much of his approach to foreign policy during his time in the Senate.

Personal Life

Graham never married and had no children. He helped raise his younger sister after the deaths of both of their parents within 15 months of each other, when Graham was 22.