{"id":4324,"date":"2026-07-12T13:14:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=4324"},"modified":"2026-07-12T13:14:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T08:14:29","slug":"sen-lindsey-graham-dies-at-71-after-brief-and-sudden-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=4324","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after \u2018brief and sudden illness\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p id=\"anchor-b2ee10\" class=\"body-graf\">WASHINGTON \u2014 Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who was elected to the Senate in 2003 and was a close political ally of President Donald Trump, has died, his office confirmed early Sunday. He was 71. <\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-5a9cfc\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham died Saturday night \u201cfrom a brief and sudden illness,\u201d his office said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-fbab99\" class=\"body-graf\">\u201cSenator Graham\u2019s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-2004c0\" class=\"body-graf\">President Donald Trump led tributes Sunday to \u201cone of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known,\u201d describing Graham as a \u201ctrue American Patriot\u201d in a Truth Social post.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-bc3524\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in November. He was one of the most well-known members of the chamber and a key voice within the party on defense and foreign policy.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-478f93\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1667\" data-original-width=\"2500\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260711-lindsey-graham-cc-1138p-8ff010.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260711-lindsey-graham-cc-1138p-8ff010.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260711-lindsey-graham-cc-1138p-8ff010.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260711-lindsey-graham-cc-1138p-8ff010.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260711-lindsey-graham-cc-1138p-8ff010.jpg\" alt=\"U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., questions Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2026.\" height=\"1667\" width=\"2500\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., questions Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2026.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Jim Watson \/ AFP via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-13597c\" class=\"body-graf\">Emergency personnel responded to a call for \u201ccardiac arrest\u201d at Graham\u2019s Capitol Hill home on Saturday night, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-d8c8ef\" class=\"body-graf\">Photographs reviewed by NBC News show that paramedics carried a person on a stretcher from Graham\u2019s home to an awaiting ambulance. Police cars and fire trucks were also on site.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e45440\" class=\"body-graf\">A top staffer to Graham told NBC News early Sunday that there was no indication the lawmaker was feeling unwell prior to his death. He had been scheduled to appear on NBC News\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/meet-the-press\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cMeet the Press\u201d<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-d077cb\" class=\"body-graf\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune paid tribute to a \u201cstrong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe,\u201d while South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said Graham had been \u201cthe fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America\u2014and a loyal and steadfast friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-cfa4de\" class=\"body-graf\">According to South Carolina law, McMaster will appoint someone to fill Graham\u2019s seat until Jan. 3 of next year. <\/p>\n<section class=\"inline-video inline-video--in-body\" data-testid=\"inline-video\" id=\"anchor-b348a8\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__background\">\n<div class=\"inline-video__player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc styles_videoContainer___xc7B video-container paused\" data-testid=\"gamma-video-player\">\n<div class=\"styles_gridStackWrapper__Z_AMc videoSlate styles_videoSlate__IvkAP\"><picture class=\"\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"focal\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1240px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-860x484,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783841795483_nbc_brk_lindsey_graham_welker_260712_S3_1920x1080-l8ntll.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 758px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-1000x563,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783841795483_nbc_brk_lindsey_graham_welker_260712_S3_1920x1080-l8ntll.jpg\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783841795483_nbc_brk_lindsey_graham_welker_260712_S3_1920x1080-l8ntll.jpg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best\/mpx\/2704722219\/2026_07\/1783841795483_nbc_brk_lindsey_graham_welker_260712_S3_1920x1080-l8ntll.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p id=\"anchor-44a968\" class=\"body-graf\">In June, Graham <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/2026-election\/sen-lindsey-graham-wins-gop-primary-defeating-wealthy-challenger-south-rcna348697\" target=\"_blank\">defeated multiple primary challengers<\/a> to secure the nomination for a fifth term in the Senate. South Carolina Republicans must now find a replacement nominee.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e21412\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham was fresh off a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ZelenskyyUa\/status\/2075622796819128501?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy<\/a> on Friday. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to Lindsey for recognizing our warriors,\u201d Zelenskyy said at the time, adding that they discussed the country\u2019s urgent air defense needs and plans for fresh Russian sanctions.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-000096\" class=\"body-graf\">Ruslan Stefanchuk, Ukraine\u2019s Parliament speaker, led tributes there Sunday to a \u201csteadfast friend of Ukraine, who well understood that our struggle is a fight for freedom, democracy, and a just world order.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c05a58\" class=\"body-graf\">His death comes as fellow Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/mitch-mcconnell-remains-hospitalized-three-weeks-rcna353183\" target=\"_blank\">remains in the hospital <\/a>after paramedics responded to a call at a known residence last month for an individual experiencing cardiac arrest. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-019913\" class=\"body-graf\">A McConnell spokesperson has said the former GOP majority leader is continuing to recover, but his team has not provided further details about his condition.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-da3b9a\" class=\"body-graf\">Growing up in the small town of Central, South Carolina, Graham\u2019s parents ran a restaurant and pool hall. The first of his family to go to college, he earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina before embarking on a career in the military, serving in the U.S. Air Force as a lawyer. Graham served a total of 33 years in the Air Force, Air Force Reserves and South Carolina Air National Guard, fulfilling his reserve duties while holding his seat in Congress. He retired in 2015 at the rank of Colonel.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-eda076\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham first arrived in Congress as a member of the House of Representatives, where he served from 1995 to 2003.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-0093cc\" class=\"body-graf\">He ran for Senate in 2002, winning the South Carolina seat previously held by the retiring Strom Thurmond.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-6c06aa\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham made a name for himself with his work on foreign policy. In recent years, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/sen-lindsey-graham-pause-us-help-ukraine-worse-afghanistan-rcna195540\" target=\"_blank\">he pressed<\/a> both the Trump and Biden administrations to back Kyiv\u2019s fight against Russia\u2019s invasion, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/white-house\/wait-see-trump-weighs-return-war-iran-rcna353464\" target=\"_blank\">pressed the Trump administration<\/a> for a hawkish stance on Iran. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c18955\" class=\"body-graf\">He found allies for his foreign policy positions in the upper chamber, befriending former Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., dubbed \u201cthe Three Amigos\u201d for their shared hawkish stances.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-ec7141\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham was the Republicans\u2019 \u201clast highly effective advocate for the idea that American power must shape events before hostile powers reshape them,\u201d Michael A. Horowitz, a geopolitical and security analyst, told NBC News.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c98f10\" class=\"body-graf\">In the Trump era, Horowitz added, \u201chis foreign\u2011policy leverage shifted from shaping broad Senate consensus to shaping Trump\u2019s own instincts, using loyalty and flattery to keep hard\u2011line positions on Iran, Ukraine, and Syria in the room even as the party\u2019s base turned more inward.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-aaee2e\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021. He most recently served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, where he helped shepherd through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/white-house\/trump-signs-big-tax-cut-spending-bill-law-july-fourth-ceremony-rcna216753\" target=\"_blank\">major tax cut and spending package <\/a>during Trump\u2019s second term.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a8aec0\" class=\"body-graf\">Graham was initially a critic of Trump, whom he briefly ran against during the 2016 Republican presidential primary. At the time, he <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LindseyGrahamSC\/status\/727604522156228608?s=20\" target=\"_blank\">warned<\/a>: \u201cIf we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-ef3cc9\" class=\"body-graf\">The pair\u2019s relationship had evolved in the intervening decade, with Graham frequently praising Trump while sometimes pressing him on policy decisions. In an interview with NBC News in February, he called himself <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/congress\/lindsey-graham-maintains-alliance-donald-trump-republican-primary-rcna258735\" target=\"_blank\">the president\u2019s \u201cnorth star.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-2b583a\" class=\"endmark body-graf\">\u201cWe disagree, but he knows where I am coming from,\u201d Graham said of the president. \u201cHe sees me helping him as much as anybody in the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WASHINGTON \u2014 Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who was elected to the Senate in 2003 and was a close political ally of President Donald Trump, has died, his office confirmed early Sunday. He was 71. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. Graham died Saturday night \u201cfrom a brief&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4325,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260711-lindsey-graham-cc-1138p-8ff010.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4324","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4324"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4324\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4325"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4324"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}