South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, passed away on Saturday night at the age of 71; his office stated in an initial announcement that it was due to “a brief and sudden illness.”

According to his spokesperson, preliminary findings by the District of Columbia medical examiner indicated that Graham died of an aortic dissection, which was caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. According to reports in the U.S. media on the subject, “aortic dissection is a life-threatening condition in which a tear forms in the wall of the aorta.”

An emergency call made Saturday night from the senator’s residence reported a cardiac arrest.

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“Senator Graham’s family asks that their privacy be respected during this extremely difficult time,” his office said.

Graham had recently returned from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. He was also scheduled to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he had spoken with Graham after his return from Ukraine and that, aside from being tired, he seemed fine. Paying tribute to Graham, Trump called him “one of the greatest people and senators I’ve ever known” and “a true American patriot.”

Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” by Graham’s death, highlighting the senator’s ten visits to Ukraine during the war and his support for the country’s defense.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel had lost one of its greatest friends, while the United States had lost a great patriot. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was shocked and devastated by the sudden death of a close friend and staunch supporter of Israel.

Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, on July 9, 1955. He lost both his parents when he was just over 20 years old and became the legal guardian of his 13-year-old sister, Darlene.

After earning a law degree from the University of South Carolina, he worked as a military lawyer and then in the private sector. He later served in the South Carolina House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 2002. He was re-elected three times.

Graham emerged as one of the most prominent voices in Congress on foreign policy issues, advocating hardline positions toward Iran and Russia and strongly supporting Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion. His close ties with Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman led to them becoming known as the “three amigos.”

Although he was initially a vocal critic of Trump, Graham later became one of the president’s closest allies in Congress. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he played a key role in confirming the appointments of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.

Under South Carolina law, Republican Governor Henry McMaster will appoint an interim successor, who will serve until January 3, 2027. Graham’s permanent successor will be elected in the midterm elections on November 3, 2026.

Source: CNA