Prominent United States Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican lawmaker and close ally of President Donald Trump, has died at the age of 71 following a brief and sudden illness.
His office announced his death in a statement posted on its official X account early Sunday.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” the statement read.
It added that Graham’s family “appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
Graham began his career in the US Congress after winning election to the House of Representatives in 1994, where he represented South Carolina.
He was elected to the United States Senate in 2002 and went on to become one of the Republican Party’s most influential lawmakers.
During his time in the Senate, Graham served on several key committees and was widely recognised for his strong views on national security, foreign policy and defence.
Although Graham was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, the two later developed a close political relationship.
He became one of Trump’s most trusted allies in the Senate, frequently defending the administration’s policies and playing a prominent role in debates on judicial appointments, immigration and foreign affairs.
In recent years, Graham remained one of the most influential Republican voices on issues involving Ukraine, Israel and US military engagement overseas.
