Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who spent more than two decades as one of the Senate's most influential voices on foreign policy and national security, died Saturday night after what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness." He was 71.
His office announced Graham's death in a statement late Saturday.
"Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period."
Emergency medical technicians responded to a cardiac arrest call at Graham's home Saturday night, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News. His death came as a shock in Washington. There had been no public signs that Graham was ill, and he had been scheduled to appear on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday morning.
President Donald Trump was among the first national leaders to respond, writing on Truth Social that Graham was "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known."
Graham represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003 after serving four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over the years, he became one of the Republican Party's most recognizable lawmakers, earning a reputation as an outspoken advocate for a strong U.S. military and an active American role overseas.
In recent years, Graham was one of Congress' strongest supporters of Ukraine following Russia's invasion. He had traveled to the country ten times since the war began and had just returned from Kyiv, where he met Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky remembered Graham as "a true defender of freedom and of the values that make our world safer."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also praised Graham's commitment to the alliance, saying he "believed strongly in the NATO Alliance and was actively working to bring an end to Russia's war against Ukraine."
Graham was equally outspoken in his support for Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the senator "devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world."
"Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend."
While foreign policy defined much of his career, Graham also left a lasting mark on the federal judiciary. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020, he oversaw the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Two years earlier, he emerged as one of Justice Brett Kavanaugh's most vocal defenders during his contentious confirmation hearings.
Graham briefly sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 before ending his campaign. Although he was an early critic of Donald Trump, the two later became close political allies, with Graham serving as one of the president's most trusted advisers on national security and foreign affairs.
Born in Central, South Carolina, Graham became the first member of his family to attend college, earning both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. Before entering politics, he served as a lawyer in the U.S. Air Force from 1982 to 1988.
At the time of his death, Graham was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and had recently secured the Republican nomination for what would have been a fifth Senate term.
Under South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint someone to fill Graham's Senate seat through Jan. 3, 2027. Republican voters will also choose a new nominee in a special primary expected to take place on Aug. 11.
In mourning Graham's passing, McMaster called him "the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend."
