The office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, announced on Sunday, July 12 (21 Saratan), in an official statement that he died on Saturday evening at the age of 71 after a brief and sudden illness.
According to Zharfa News Agency, Graham, who was one of the most prominent figures in the U.S. Congress, was a vocal critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. However, he later became one of Trump’s closest allies in the Senate.
The senator was also known for his hawkish foreign policy positions and for years supported America’s interventionist policies around the world.
Graham represented South Carolina in the Senate from 2003 until his death and also served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
He had traveled to Kyiv on Friday, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to express his support for the country.
According to reports, an emergency call regarding cardiac arrest was received from Graham’s residence on Saturday night. His office has not yet released further details about the exact cause of death.
In response to the news, U.S. President Donald Trump described Graham as “one of the greatest people and senators” he had ever known.
