\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy, has died after a \u201cbrief and sudden illness,\u201d his office said. He was 71.The statement posted on social media early Sunday said his family \u201cappreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.\u201d It did not provide any additional details about the circumstances surrounding the Saturday night death of the South Carolina Republican, a former Air Force lawyer who served in Congress for three decades.Trump, who talked to Graham frequently, said he was \u201clike a member of the family. It\u2019s very tough.\u201d He said on NBC\u2019s \u201dMeet the Press” that Graham had called him on Saturday night after returning from a trip to Ukraine and \u201csounded a little bit tired, but perfect.\u201dA noted hawk, Graham was one of the most influential figures in Washington on foreign affairs and he advised Trump on matters such as the Iran war and Russia. On Friday, Graham had announced an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions.As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham also had a central role during Trump\u2019s second term as Republicans pushed major legislation on party-line votes while holding a narrow 53-47 majority in the chamber.Under South Carolina law, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement for Graham, who was seeking a fifth term in November.Graham was close with TrumpFirst elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 after serving in the House, Graham briefly ran for president in 2016.However, he later emerged as one of Trump’s top allies, speaking with him frequently and becoming a regular presence on the golf course alongside the president.Graham especially advised the president on foreign policy matters such as Iran and Russia, and had just announced an agreement on Friday with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions.Graham had been in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who acknowledged the senator\u2019s 10th visit to the country and thanked him for \u201crecognizing our warriors.\u201dAs a member of the U.S. House in the 1990s, Graham backed policies aimed at isolating Iran and limiting its missile and nuclear programs.He also cheered on Trump\u2019s decision to strike nuclear sites last year and had been a supporter of the latest conflict that started a few months ago.Foreign policy was a focus for GrahamGraham especially advised Trump on foreign policy matters such as Iran and Russia, and had just announced an agreement on Friday with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions. The senator had been in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said that the senator visited his country 10 times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion.\u201cLindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,\u201d Zelenskyy said.His travels made him a familiar face to dozens of world leaders.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday mourned Graham\u2019s death, calling him \u201ca great friend of Israel\u201d and \u201ca cherished friend of mine.\u201dNetanyahu said Graham understood that the security of Israel and the United States is inseparable and devoted his life to defending America, strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance and standing up for the free world.\u201cIsrael has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,\u201d Netanyahu said, extending condolences to Graham\u2019s family and the American people.The Republican had a prominent career on Capitol HillGraham had been serving as the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, giving him a central role during Trump\u2019s second term as Republicans pushed major legislation on party-line votes with a slim majority in the chamber.His committee oversaw a process called reconciliation, a Senate procedure that allowed Republicans to pass significant policies such as last year\u2019s tax law without the threat of a Democratic filibuster.He had previously led the Senate Judiciary Committee when Republicans confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in 2020, and was in line to regain that gavel if the party kept control of the Senate after this year\u2019s midterms.Graham also played a central role in the Senate\u2019s efforts to craft a massive immigration overhaul in 2013 as a member of the so-called Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group that wrote a sweeping measure that rewrote virtually every part of U.S. immigration law. It passed the Senate with 68 votes but was never taken up by the House, so it did not become law.But Graham\u2019s views on immigration, particularly an endorsement of a pathway to citizenship for people in the U.S. without legal status, put him at odds with much of the Republican Party and made him vulnerable to primary challenges in South Carolina when he was up for reelection.This year, Graham faced primary threats from Paul Dans, a key author of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for governing drafted while Trump was running to regain the White House. But Dans dropped out of the race in April and Graham won his primary outright in June and was facing Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician from Charleston, in November.Graham relied heavily on his close ties with Trump as he fended off primary challengers, and he addressed the president in his victory speech last month, saying, \u201cI\u2019m going to help you change this world and change this country.\u201dSpecial election to replace Graham could be within weeksGraham won 57% of the GOP vote in the primary and was up against Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, and several minor party and independent candidates in November.After McMaster appoints a replacement, South Carolina law requires a special primary for voters to select a new nominee within weeks of a vacancy. The general election winner will take office January, beginning a full six-year term.McMaster\u2019s office did not immediately return messages seeking comment on who would take Graham\u2019s seat or when the machinations for the primary would begin. State party officials said early Sunday they would release more information when they could.The sparse statement by Graham’s office, which did not explain his death, comes during a stretch of concern about a lack of transparency about lawmakers\u2019 health.Rep. Tom Kean Jr., R-N.J., was absent without explanation for months before returning to Congress and disclosing that he had been diagnosed with depression.Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Republican leader, was hospitalized weeks ago for undisclosed health reasons.McMaster said in a statement that Graham was \u201cirreplaceable.”\u201cThe fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America \u2014 and a loyal and steadfast friend,\u201d McMaster said. He added: \u201cWe shall not see his likes again.\u201dGraham was not married and did not have children. His closest living relative is sister Darline Graham Nordone, whom he helped raise after both their parents died.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s closest allies in Congress who traveled the globe to advocate for a more aggressive U.S. foreign policy, has died after a \u201cbrief and sudden illness,\u201d his office said. He was 71.<\/p>\n
The statement posted on social media early Sunday said his family \u201cappreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.\u201d It did not provide any additional details about the circumstances surrounding the Saturday night death of the South Carolina Republican, a former Air Force lawyer who served in Congress for three decades.<\/p>\n
Trump, who talked to Graham frequently, said he was \u201clike a member of the family. It\u2019s very tough.\u201d He said on NBC\u2019s \u201dMeet the Press” that Graham had called him on Saturday night after returning from a trip to Ukraine and \u201csounded a little bit tired, but perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
A noted hawk, Graham was one of the most influential figures in Washington on foreign affairs and he advised Trump on matters such as the Iran war and Russia. On Friday, Graham had announced an agreement with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions.<\/p>\n
As chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham also had a central role during Trump\u2019s second term as Republicans pushed major legislation on party-line votes while holding a narrow 53-47 majority in the chamber.<\/p>\n
Under South Carolina law, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement for Graham, who was seeking a fifth term in November.<\/p>\n
Graham was close with Trump<\/p>\n
First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 after serving in the House, Graham briefly ran for president in 2016.<\/p>\n
However, he later emerged as one of Trump’s top allies, speaking with him frequently and becoming a regular presence on the golf course alongside the president.<\/p>\n
Graham especially advised the president on foreign policy matters such as Iran and Russia, and had just announced an agreement on Friday with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions.<\/p>\n
Graham had been in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who acknowledged the senator\u2019s 10th visit to the country and thanked him for \u201crecognizing our warriors.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a member of the U.S. House in the 1990s, Graham backed policies aimed at isolating Iran and limiting its missile and nuclear programs.<\/p>\n
He also cheered on Trump\u2019s decision to strike nuclear sites last year and had been a supporter of the latest conflict that started a few months ago.<\/p>\n
Foreign policy was a focus for Graham<\/p>\n
Graham especially advised Trump on foreign policy matters such as Iran and Russia, and had just announced an agreement on Friday with the Trump administration to move forward on a package of Russia sanctions. The senator had been in Ukraine to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said that the senator visited his country 10 times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion.<\/p>\n
\u201cLindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,\u201d Zelenskyy said.<\/p>\n
His travels made him a familiar face to dozens of world leaders.<\/p>\n
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday mourned Graham\u2019s death, calling him \u201ca great friend of Israel\u201d and \u201ca cherished friend of mine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Netanyahu said Graham understood that the security of Israel and the United States is inseparable and devoted his life to defending America, strengthening the U.S.-Israel alliance and standing up for the free world.<\/p>\n
\u201cIsrael has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,\u201d Netanyahu said, extending condolences to Graham\u2019s family and the American people.<\/p>\n
The Republican had a prominent career on Capitol Hill<\/p>\n
Graham had been serving as the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, giving him a central role during Trump\u2019s second term as Republicans pushed major legislation on party-line votes with a slim majority in the chamber.<\/p>\n
His committee oversaw a process called reconciliation, a Senate procedure that allowed Republicans to pass significant policies such as last year\u2019s tax law without the threat of a Democratic filibuster.<\/p>\n
He had previously led the Senate Judiciary Committee when Republicans confirmed Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in 2020, and was in line to regain that gavel if the party kept control of the Senate after this year\u2019s midterms.<\/p>\n
Graham also played a central role in the Senate\u2019s efforts to craft a massive immigration overhaul in 2013 as a member of the so-called Gang of Eight, a bipartisan group that wrote a sweeping measure that rewrote virtually every part of U.S. immigration law. It passed the Senate with 68 votes but was never taken up by the House, so it did not become law.<\/p>\n
But Graham\u2019s views on immigration, particularly an endorsement of a pathway to citizenship for people in the U.S. without legal status, put him at odds with much of the Republican Party and made him vulnerable to primary challenges in South Carolina when he was up for reelection.<\/p>\n
This year, Graham faced primary threats from Paul Dans, a key author of Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for governing drafted while Trump was running to regain the White House. But Dans dropped out of the race in April and Graham won his primary outright in June and was facing Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician from Charleston, in November.<\/p>\n
Graham relied heavily on his close ties with Trump as he fended off primary challengers, and he addressed the president in his victory speech last month, saying, \u201cI\u2019m going to help you change this world and change this country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Special election to replace Graham could be within weeks<\/p>\n
Graham won 57% of the GOP vote in the primary and was up against Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, and several minor party and independent candidates in November.<\/p>\n
After McMaster appoints a replacement, South Carolina law requires a special primary for voters to select a new nominee within weeks of a vacancy. The general election winner will take office January, beginning a full six-year term.<\/p>\n
McMaster\u2019s office did not immediately return messages seeking comment on who would take Graham\u2019s seat or when the machinations for the primary would begin. State party officials said early Sunday they would release more information when they could.<\/p>\n
The sparse statement by Graham’s office, which did not explain his death, comes during a stretch of concern about a lack of transparency about lawmakers\u2019 health.<\/p>\n