US Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71, Tributes Pour In
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has died at 71 after a brief illness, shocking colleagues following his recent return from a meeting with Ukraine's President Zelenskyy.
According to Oliver Partridge writing in GB News, Graham’s office released a statement yesterday evening confirming his death. The statement requested privacy for the senator’s family during what it described as an incredibly difficult period.
Lindsey Graham had represented South Carolina in the United States Senate since his election in 2002, establishing himself as one of Washington’s most prominent voices on national defense and foreign policy matters. The conservative stalwart had been a key supporter of President Trump throughout his political career.
The senator’s death comes as a shock to colleagues and observers alike, as he had shown no public signs of health problems. Graham had just returned from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday in Kyiv. Zelenskyy characterized their discussion as a productive meeting and expressed gratitude for Graham’s recognition of Ukrainian forces.
Henry McMaster, South Carolina’s governor, offered a heartfelt tribute to his state’s longtime representative. Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable, McMaster stated, describing him as the fiercest of fighters for both South Carolina and America, as well as a loyal and steadfast friend.
International tributes poured in from Israel, where Graham was regarded as one of the Jewish state’s strongest supporters in Congress. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, declared that Israel had lost one of its greatest friends, noting that Graham stood with the country not because it was easy, but because he believed it was right.
Naftali Bennett, a former Israeli prime minister, echoed those sentiments, saying America had lost a devoted patriot and Israel one of its greatest friends who stood with the nation through its darkest hours with courage.
A retired Air Force Reserve colonel who specialized as a military lawyer, Graham was known for his hawkish foreign policy positions. He supported the Iraq war and had consistently advocated for military action against Iran throughout his Senate career.
With information from GB News
