Lindsey Graham, Republican senator and ardent critic-turned-fervent-supporter of President Donald Trump, has died at 71 after a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said in a statement released Sunday morning, July 12. Graham won the South Carolina primary for Senate in June and was seeking a fifth term.
In the aftermath of the statement, Trump took to Truth Social to share his condolences: “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” he wrote. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!”
Trump and Graham had a once fraught relationship, particularly during the 2016 presidential election, that turned full-throated and affectionate after they met at a golf outing in 2017. Prior to that, Graham—who was also running in the 2016 presidential primary—had criticized Trump as “a race-baiting bigot,” and “the most flawed nominee in the history of the Republican Party,” New York Magazine reported in 2018.
A large part of Graham’s apparent dislike for the president was due to Trump’s disrespect for late-Senator John McCain, Graham’s friend and mentor, who christened him with the affectionate (?) nickname, “little jerk.” Trump, in response to Graham’s criticism, shared Graham’s personal phone number on TV.
But after Trump and Graham met and bonded over golf, Graham quickly became an ally. He used that position to advise Trump on Russia and Iran, as well as other foreign policy.
Graham, known for his love of the military (he served in the Air Force for years), was a key advocate for increased US military intervention in other countries. He held the position of Chairman of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He was a staunch supporter of Israel and of the US-Israel relationship; he also supported the US-Israel military campaign against Iran.
“Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement posted to X. Netanyahu and Trump both appeared on Sunday morning’s Meet the Press, in lieu of Graham’s scheduled interview.
Graham was also a supporter of Ukraine as the country continues to defend itself against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a statement on X saying that he and Graham had met twice in the past week, and that he “was here with our people when it was most needed … Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.”
The late senator also played “a pivotal role,” according to his campaign site, in the passage of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” in 2025. The bill directly impacts young people with student debt, reducing the number of repayment-program options and raising interest rates. NBC News wrote, “it will end the most borrower-friendly repayment program launched under President Joe Biden, forcing many of the more than 7 million people enrolled to pay more in their monthly federal loan bills.” In 2024, Graham called the Biden-Harris administration’s $167 billion student-debt forgiveness approval “beyond lawless and dangerous.”
One Big Beautiful Bill also increased spending on border security. “If you’re for open borders, this bill is your worst nightmare,” Graham said on the Senate floor.
Graham never married and has no children, but leaves behind a sister, Darline Nordone. The news of Graham’s death comes amid heightened speculation about the health of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has reportedly been hospitalized for weeks. On Sunday, July 12, McConnell shared a photo and health update, writing in a statement that he is "regaining my strength."
