South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a prominent voice on defense and foreign policy who served six terms in the Senate, died Sunday at age 71 after a brief and sudden illness.
Emergency responders were dispatched to Graham’s Capitol Hill residence Saturday night following a report of possible cardiac arrest, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News. Paramedics transported an individual on a stretcher from the home to an ambulance, with police vehicles and fire trucks present at the scene.
What Happened
Graham’s family released a statement Sunday saying he had passed “from a brief and sudden illness.” “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement read.
President Donald Trump announced Graham’s death on Truth Social, writing: “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” Trump noted that Graham “was always working, and was a true American Patriot” and would be “greatly missed.”
A senior Graham aide told NBC News there had been no indication the senator was experiencing health problems before his death. Graham had been scheduled to appear on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday morning, a program where he had been a frequent guest, making 63 appearances over the years.
Graham’s Senate Role
Graham was serving as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and had secured the Republican nomination for a fifth six-year Senate term in June. With the general election scheduled for November, South Carolina Republicans must now select a new nominee, with state election law expected to require a special primary by August 11.
One of the Senate’s most recognizable members, Graham was a leading voice within his party on defense and foreign policy issues. Just days before his death, he had traveled to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.
International Reactions
Zelenskyy said in a statement that Graham “was a true defender of freedom and of the values that make our world safer,” noting that the senator had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia’s 2022 invasion. “We were in constant dialogue, which I will miss,” Zelenskyy added.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called Graham “a powerful advocate for America who believed strongly in the NATO Alliance and was actively working to bring an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham “devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world,” calling him “one of its greatest friends.”
Succession Plans
Per South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint someone to fill Graham’s seat until January 3, 2027. McMaster said Graham had been “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America-and a loyal and steadfast friend.”
Graham’s death comes as fellow Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky continues to recover in the hospital after emergency responders were dispatched to a residence last month following a report of a person in cardiac arrest. A McConnell spokesperson has said the former Senate Republican leader is recovering, though his office has released few additional details about his condition.