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Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after sudden illness

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U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who became one of the nation’s most influential voices on defense and foreign policy during more than two decades in the Senate, died Saturday after a brief and sudden illness. He was 71.

Graham’s office announced that he died Saturday night. A preliminary cause of death was identified as an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

President Donald Trump led tributes, calling Graham “a true American patriot” and one of the greatest senators he had known. The White House lowered flags to half-staff, and Trump ordered U.S. flags nationwide to remain at half-staff through Saturday evening.

Graham was first elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in November.

Known for his outspoken views on national security, Graham became one of the Republican Party’s leading advocates for a strong U.S. military and an active American role overseas. He consistently supported military aid to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and urged a hard-line approach toward Iran.

Before entering Congress, Graham earned a law degree from the University of South Carolina and served for 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve and South Carolina Air National Guard, retiring in 2015 with the rank of colonel.

Although Graham was an outspoken critic of Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign, the two later became close political allies. Graham played a key role in advancing several of Trump’s legislative priorities and often served as one of the president’s closest advisers on foreign policy.

His death came one day after returning from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Leaders from around the world, including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, praised Graham’s longstanding support for U.S. alliances and international security.

According to South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement to serve until Jan. 3. Because Graham had already secured the Republican nomination for November’s election, state election officials are expected to schedule a special primary to choose a new GOP nominee.

Source: NBC

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