Trump Pays Tribute To Lindsey Graham After Senator’s Death At 71
President Donald Trump paid an emotional tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham following the South Carolina Republican’s death at the age of 71, calling him “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” and praising his decades of service to the nation.
In a statement posted to Truth Social, Trump described Graham as “a true American Patriot” who dedicated his life to serving South Carolina and the United States. He said Graham would be “greatly missed” and extended his condolences to the senator’s family, friends, and supporters.
Graham’s office announced Saturday that the senator died after a “brief and sudden illness.” No official cause of death has been released. He was 71 years old and had returned from a congressional trip to Ukraine shortly before his death.
Although Graham was one of Trump’s sharpest Republican critics during the 2016 presidential campaign, the two developed a close friendship after Trump entered the White House. Graham became one of the president’s strongest allies in Congress, defending him during both impeachment proceedings and supporting many of his judicial, immigration, and foreign policy priorities.
Trump credited Graham with helping advance conservative policies and described him as a trusted adviser on national security issues. The senator was a leading advocate for a strong military, aggressive sanctions on America’s adversaries, and unwavering support for U.S. allies abroad.
Tributes also poured in from lawmakers and world leaders across the political spectrum. South Carolina officials praised Graham’s decades of public service, while international leaders recognized his influence on American foreign policy and his longstanding support for allies including Israel and Ukraine.
Graham served in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 before winning election to the U.S. Senate, where he served for more than two decades. He had recently secured the Republican nomination for another Senate term before his unexpected death.