US Senator Lindsey Graham dies after 'brief and sudden illness', his office says
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Ali_Baba
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FBI called in after death of US senator Lindsey Graham
FBI called in after US senator Lindsey Graham
Iona Cleave, Jörg Luyken, Sarah Newey
9–11 minutes
Agency urged to rule out foul play after Trump ally and fierce critic of Iranian regime killed by ‘sudden illness’ at 71
The FBI said it was assisting local authorities dealing with the death of Lindsey Graham, the US senator.
The close Trump ally died at the age of 71 from a “brief and sudden illness” on Saturday night, his office said, but provided no additional details about the circumstances.
Mr Graham had recently returned from a trip to Ukraine and was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term.
Kash Patel, the FBI director, said: “The FBI is assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available.”
It was not clear how the FBI would be helping, or whether there was a formal investigation into the death taking place.
Emergency personnel were called to Graham’s home on Capitol Hill on Saturday night to respond to a “cardiac arrest”, according to audio obtained by NBC News. The outlet said it has seen photos of a person being carried on a stretcher into an ambulance.
Lindsey Graham was one of Donald Trump's most vocal supporters in the US Senate
Lindsey Graham was one of Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters in the US Senate Credit: Alex Brandon
Mr Graham, who spent his long career advocating for more aggressive US foreign policy, was an influential voice in the Republican Party. He had served as a senator for South Carolina since 2003.
He was one of Mr Trump’s most steadfast allies in the US upper house, a strong advocate of the war against Iran and a staunch supporter of Nato and Israel.
On July 10, the senator returned from a trip to Kyiv, where he met Volodymyr Zelensky and announced a revised sanctions package targeting Russia that gives the US authority to penalise or impose tariffs on countries buying Russian oil or gas.
Sir William Browder, a British financier who became a target of Vladimir Putin’s regime, advocated on Sunday for “all tests” to be “done immediately to rule out foul play”.
Sir William added on X: “Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but Lindsey Graham was the leading driver of the devastating sanctions bill against Russia. Yesterday, he announced that President Trump agreed to it.
Good meeting with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham @LindseyGrahamSC in Kyiv. This is already his 10th visit to our country, and we appreciate this support.
I'm grateful to Lindsey for recognizing our warriors. The stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the greater the chances that… pic.twitter.com/bgZjjgIqu1
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 10, 2026
“He had just returned from Ukraine where it’s not unknown for Russian agents to operate. Russians are expert at administration of poisons that look like heart attacks.”
Meaghan Mobbs, the daughter of Gen Keith Kellogg, Mr Trump’s former special envoy for Ukraine, pointed to possible Russian involvement.
She said that, while Mr Graham’s death could be natural, it was reasonable to ask further questions “given the current geopolitical context and the adversaries he aggressively confronted”.
Ms Mobbs added: “Destabilisation through ambiguity is where Russia thrives. The absence of answers creates precisely the uncertainty, suspicion, and division Moscow has spent years learning to exploit.”
No evidence of foul play has been publicly disclosed.
Mr Trump told NBC on Sunday that he had spoken to Mr Graham on the phone after his return from Ukraine. “He sounded a little bit tired, but perfect,” he said.
It had been Mr Graham’s 10th trip to the war-torn country since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Mr Zelensky called Mr Graham a “true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer”.
Obituary
The foreign policy hawk’s travels around the world made him a familiar face to dozens of world leaders.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, said Mr Graham had understood that the security of Israel and the US were inseparable.
“Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend,” Mr Netanyahu said.
Mr Graham was a staunch, long-time interventionist who pushed for direct confrontation with Iran. He was a strong supporter of regime change and the US and Israeli military operations.
On July 6, Mr Graham had shared images from Tehran of people holding placards with a red target on his head. The words read: “Sooner of later your heads will roll.”
Making light of the threat, Mr Graham wrote: “At least they used a good photo of me.”
After the announcement of his death, an Iranian state TV news anchor rejoiced, calling the senator a “celebrator of Iran’s destruction, protecting the child-killing Zionist regime”, in reference to Israel.
He added: “Lindsey Graham has finally gone to hell.”
Graham was a staunch Nato supporter and strong advocate of the war in Iran
Mr Graham, seen visiting Kyiv, was a staunch Nato supporter and strong advocate of the war in Iran Credit: Alina Smutko
In a tribute, Mr Trump described the former air force lawyer as “one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known” and “like a member of the family”.
“He was always working, and was a true American patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!” he added on his Truth Social network on Sunday.
Mr Graham’s sudden death will have ramifications for Republican-led legislation in the Senate, where Republicans already have a slim margin strained by the absence of Senator Mitch McConnell before the November midterm elections.
Under South Carolina law, Henry McMaster, the Republican governor, will appoint a temporary replacement for Mr Graham.
A number of Republican names began circulating as possible replacements to serve out the rest of Graham’s term, including House representatives Nancy Mace and Russell Fry.
South Carolina state law requires a special primary election on Aug 11 – with a possible run-off on Aug 25 – to choose a nominee.
Ambitious bid for presidency
Mr Graham was first elected to Congress in 1994, before winning his Senate seat in 2002. He was unmarried and lived in Seneca, South Carolina.
He made his own ambitious bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, which went to Mr Trump. He warned Republicans at the time: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed... and we will deserve it.”
However, once Mr Trump won the White House, Mr Graham became one of his most dependable advocates and a golfing partner.
In a 2018 interview, he said of his relationship with Mr Trump that he tried to be helpful because “I think he needs all the help he can get”.
“You can be a better critic when people understand that you’re trying to help them be successful,” he added.
He defended the president during his two impeachments, but appeared to break with him after the Jan 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
“Count me out. Enough is enough,” he said in a speech to the Senate floor that night. But he soon returned to the fold and remained close with Mr Trump throughout his second term, largely keeping in lock-step with the president.
He did, however, publicly disagree with Mr Trump’s decision in his second term to pardon the Jan 6 rioters, saying it would lead to more violence.
John Barrasso, the Wyoming senator who is the second-ranking Republican, said Mr Graham would be missed for his “quick wit and infectious laughter.”
Governor McMaster called him “irreplaceable” and “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America”.
Ursula von der Leyen, the EU chief, said Mr Graham “fought until the very end to support Ukraine’s fight for freedom and raise the cost of Russia’s war of aggression”.
She added: “He worked tirelessly to strengthen sanctions, in close coordination with the EU. A determined and fearless leader. He will be deeply missed.”
Davey Crockett
Elite Member
Davey Crockett
Elite Member
Irfan Baloch
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
one of the most hated American politican and a warmongering Zionist is indeed dead. what a joy.may all is ilk also meet a sudden and painful end so that the violence by American regime stops across the globe.
Pakistan First
Registered Member
Israeli pet is dead. Not a big deal. They will get more. Israelis would have his replacements ready already.
People like Lindsey are disposable. Israel will bring more of their pets into US govt. They always do.
People like Lindsey are disposable. Israel will bring more of their pets into US govt. They always do.
Al-Zakir
INT'L MOD
VCheng
THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
And yet, Lindsay Graham garnered enough votes to represent South Carolina in the United States Senate from 2003 until his death in 2026.
Previously, he also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, and in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995.
The period in elected office is approximately 33 years, not exactly short.
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