United States Senator Lindsey Graham died on Saturday evening after an aortic tear caused by cardiovascular disease, according to the Washington DC medical examiner’s preliminary report.
The 71‑year‑old Republican, who was elected to the Senate in 2002, had been a close ally of President Donald Trump and was known for his interventionist stance on foreign policy. He had just returned from a trip to Kyiv where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky expressed deep sadness in a statement on X, calling Mr. Graham "a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer."
Graham’s spokesperson said that the official death certificate will be issued only after all toxicological and microscopic testing is finalized.
The senator’s tenure has been marked by strong support for military intervention overseas, including vocal backing of actions against Iran and the war in Ukraine. He had previously criticized Trump in 2016, but by 2024 had become a staunch supporter of the former president’s policies.
With his passing, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster now holds the authority to appoint a temporary replacement who will serve until the end of Graham’s term in January. The seat will be contested in the November mid‑term elections.
The Republican majority in the Senate, which stood at 53‑47 before his death, may be affected if the temporary appointment influences the chamber’s dynamics at critical legislative moments.
