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US Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71 Following Brief Illness

US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died on the evening of Saturday, July 11, at the age of 71, following a “brief and sudden illness,” according to a statement from his office. Graham, a retired Air Force Reserve colonel and prominent foreign policy hawk, served in the Senate since 2003. His sudden pa

Kyiv Post

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July 12th, 2026

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US Senator Lindsey Graham died on Saturday evening following a sudden illness. He was 71 years old.

The news was announced in a brief statement released by his Senate office early Sunday morning.

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“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” the statement read. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”

His office provided no further details regarding the specific nature of the illness that led to his passing. Graham, who represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003, had been actively campaigning for a fifth term in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

Statement from the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). pic.twitter.com/CQ5yVvqTH1

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 12, 2026

A final mission in Ukraine

Graham’s death comes just days after he completed a trip to Ukraine. During his visit, the senator toured one of the production facilities of SkyFall, a prominent Ukrainian technology-defense company. Graham was briefed on the development and manufacturing of heavy bomber drones, as well as advanced first-person view (FPV) drones and “Shahed” interceptors.

Speaking to journalists after the tour, Graham was impressed by Ukraine’s technological advancements, framing his observations as a lesson for the US military.

“I believe that it would be a huge mistake for America not to cooperate with Ukraine in the field of drones. They are ready to help us because we were ready to support Ukraine in the hardest times,” Graham stated just days before his death.

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“Today I visited a state-of-the-art enterprise that has huge capacities and produces technologies far more advanced than anyone on the planet. After all, necessity is the ‘mother’ of all inventions.”

A pillar of the Senate and a Trump ally

Born in Central, South Carolina, Graham began his political career in the US House of Representatives in 1995 before winning election to the Senate in 2002, succeeding political legend Strom Thurmond.

A retired Air Force Reserve colonel who specialized as a military lawyer, Graham built his reputation on Capitol Hill as a leading defense hawk. He was a vocal proponent of the Iraq War, urged a hardline stance against Iran, and remained one of the most steadfast Republican supporters of military aid to Ukraine.

Graham’s political legacy is inextricably linked to his complex relationship with UPresident Donald Trump. During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Graham ran against Trump and was one of his sharpest critics.

However, following Trump’s election, Graham underwent a dramatic political evolution, transforming into one of the president’s most loyal and effective defenders in the Senate.

Their alliance remained strong into the current election cycle. In March 2025, Trump issued a glowing endorsement of Graham’s reelection campaign.

“Lindsey has been a wonderful friend to me, and has always been there when I needed him,” Trump wrote at the time, praising Graham’s work on the Senate Budget Committee and his commitment to securing the border and supporting the military. “Senator Lindsey Graham has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN.”