Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent ally of former US President Donald Trump and a leading voice on foreign policy, died on the evening of Saturday, July 11, 2026, following a "brief and sudden illness," according to a statement from his office. Graham was 71 years old. His family has requested privacy during this difficult time.

Graham, elected to the Senate in 2002 representing South Carolina, was widely recognized as one of Washington's most influential figures on international affairs. He also served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

Just days before his death, Graham had returned from Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, July 10, 2026. During this trip, Graham was actively working on a version of the Russia sanctions bill aimed at providing "tools to President Trump to end this war," reflecting his strong support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict following Russia's full-scale invasion.

President Zelensky expressed his deep sadness over Graham's passing, stating on his official X account that the senator had visited Ukraine 10 times since the invasion and was "with our people when it was most needed." Zelensky described Graham as a determined leader whose loss is felt by both America and the world.

In a social media post marking the senator's death, Donald Trump called Graham a "true American Patriot."

Graham's political journey included a complex relationship with Trump. In 2015, he criticized Trump as "a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot" and warned during the 2016 campaign that nominating Trump would lead to destruction. However, after the US Capitol riots in 2021, Graham publicly reaffirmed his support, saying on the Senate floor, "Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey. But I am sticking with him because I saw what he did." He cited Trump's policies on the US southern border, the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, and the appointment of conservative judges as reasons for his loyalty.

Graham's death marks the loss of a significant figure in American politics, particularly in the realm of foreign policy and US support for Ukraine.

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