Sudden Ailment Takes Life of US Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump Confidant

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent ally of former US President Donald Trump, has passed away at the age of 71. His office confirmed on Saturday evening that his death followed "a brief and sudden illness," requesting privacy for his grieving family during this challenging period.

Elected to the Senate in 2002, the South Carolina politician was a significant voice in Washington regarding foreign policy matters. Just before his demise, Senator Graham had returned from Kyiv, where he held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. There were no prior indications of any health issues before his trip.

Following the news of his passing, former President Donald Trump paid tribute to Graham on social media, describing him as a "true American Patriot." Graham had served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was a staunch advocate for US support to Ukraine. During his recent visit to Ukraine, he was actively working on a version of a Russia sanctions bill, which he stated would provide "tools to President Trump to end this war."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his profound sadness over the senator's death, noting on his official X account that Graham had visited Ukraine ten times since Russia's full-scale invasion, standing "with our people when it was most needed." Zelenskyy added that "America and the world have lost a determined leader."

Despite his later strong backing of Trump, Graham initially had clashes with the former president. In 2015, he told CNN that Trump was "a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot." During the 2016 campaign, he posted on social media, "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed... and we will deserve it." Even after the US Capitol riots in 2021, Graham delivered a speech on the Senate floor, stating, "Trump and I, we've had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. All I can say is a count me out. Enough is enough."

However, he later became one of Trump's most steadfast supporters, voting against his conviction in the 2021 impeachment trial and endorsing him for the 2024 election. Speaking to the BBC in 2023, Graham acknowledged, "There is a dark side to Donald Trump... and he was a very good president. But I am sticking with him because I saw what he did." He highlighted Trump's actions on the US southern border, the killing of Iran's military commander Qasem Soleimani, and the appointment of conservative judges as reasons for his continued support.

According to his website, Graham "consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests." He strongly opposed the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in 2021, labeling it a "sad and dangerous event for US national security." He warned then that "Jihadists all over the world are celebrating" and that "America will be seen as weak."

Senator Graham was also a vocal supporter of Israel. Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu offered his condolences on Sunday, stating that "Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable" and that Israel had lost "one of its greatest friends."