US Senator Lindsey Graham died at 71 from an aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease, according to a preliminary finding by the Washington DC medical examiner. The South Carolina Republican and close ally of former President Donald Trump passed away on Saturday evening.
Cause of death and political impact
An aortic dissection is a tear in the main artery carrying blood to the body. Graham had just returned from a trip to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. Zelensky later called Graham a "true defender of freedom."
Graham, elected to the Senate in 2002, was a prominent voice on foreign policy, advocating for US military intervention abroad. He had recently stated the US would "obliterate" Iran if it resisted control of the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Graham as a key ally, stating Israel lost "one of its greatest friends."
Political career and Trump relationship
Initially a critic of Trump, Graham later became a strong supporter, voting against his 2021 impeachment conviction and backing his 2024 campaign. In 2023, Graham cited Trump's border policies, the killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, and conservative judicial appointments as reasons for his support.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement to serve until the November midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, with control of the chamber at stake in the upcoming vote.
