The United States is mourning the loss of longtime South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the most influential Republican lawmakers of the past three decades and a close ally of President Donald Trump.
A preliminary report from the medical examiner indicates that Senator Graham likely died from an aortic dissection, a serious medical condition involving a tear in the inner wall of the body’s main artery. Authorities say additional testing is underway before an official cause of death is finalized.
Senator Lindsey Graham died Saturday evening at the age of 71 following what his office initially described as a brief and sudden illness.
According to preliminary findings from the medical examiner, Graham is believed to have suffered an aortic dissection associated with hardening of the arteries. Officials emphasized that toxicology and microscopic examinations are still being completed before a final medical determination is released.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to the senator, describing him as someone who was “like a member of the family.” The president said he had spoken with Graham shortly before his death following the senator’s return from a visit to Ukraine.
President Trump also ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff nationwide in honor of Senator Graham.
For more than three decades, Graham served in Congress, first as a member of the House of Representatives before being elected to the United States Senate in 2002. A former Air Force attorney, he became one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable voices on national security, defense policy, and international affairs.
Throughout his Senate career, Graham played leading roles on several influential committees, including the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. He helped shape debates on federal spending, judicial confirmations, immigration reform, and U.S. foreign policy.
In recent years, Graham emerged as one of President Trump’s closest allies in Congress. Although the two men publicly disagreed during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, they later developed a close political partnership that lasted through Trump’s presidency.
The senator remained actively engaged in legislative work until his final days. Just before his death, Graham announced progress on proposed sanctions targeting Russia and had recently returned from meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Leaders from the United States and abroad have offered condolences following news of his passing.
President Zelenskyy praised Graham as a longtime supporter of Ukraine, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remembered him as a steadfast friend of Israel and a strong advocate for the U.S.-Israel alliance.
Lawmakers from both Republican and Democratic parties also honored Graham’s legacy, highlighting his willingness to work across party lines while remaining a prominent voice on major national policy issues.
Under South Carolina law, Governor Henry McMaster is expected to appoint an interim senator to fill the vacancy until a special election determines who will complete the remainder of Graham’s term.
Political observers say the vacancy is likely to trigger a competitive race for one of South Carolina’s most influential Senate seats.
As investigations into the senator’s death continue, colleagues across Washington are remembering Lindsey Graham as a prominent figure whose influence extended well beyond Capitol Hill through decades of public service and international diplomacy.
Katy Moore, Reporting for SNEWS TV.
