Close Ally of Trump, US Senator Lindsey Graham, Passes Away

June 29, Kathmandu – Lindsey Graham, a close ally of former US President Donald Trump and Republican Senator, died at the age of 71.

According to his office, he suddenly fell ill on Saturday evening and subsequently passed away. Preliminary medical tests revealed that the cause of death was a ruptured main artery (aorta) of the heart.

Elected as Senator from South Carolina in 2002, Graham was one of the most influential figures in US foreign policy and was a strong supporter of American military intervention.

President Trump described Graham as a ‘true American patriot’ and expressed that his loss would be deeply felt.

Before his death, Graham was visiting Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. He was reported to be in full health prior to the visit.

Trump also mentioned speaking with Graham just a few hours before his death, saying, ‘Graham sounded fine, though a bit tired.’

Trump added, ‘He was a man of firm character who did not back down in the face of opposition once he believed he was right, and he was a good man.’

From Critic to Supporter of Trump

Initially, Graham was a fierce critic of Trump. In 2015, he accused Trump of being ‘ethnically divisive, xenophobic, and religiously intolerant.’

However, prior to the 2016 election, he warned, ‘If Trump becomes the nominee, we will lose and we will be responsible for that.’

After the violent attack on the US Capitol in 2021, he stated in the Senate, ‘My journey with Trump was long — I did not want it to end this way.’

His stance later shifted; he voted against convicting Trump in the 2021 impeachment and supported him in the 2024 presidential election.

Graham cited his support for Trump’s policies on the US-Mexico border, the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, and judicial appointments as reasons for his backing.

In 2023, he said, ‘Trump has a dark side, but he was a good president and I support him.’

Strong Stance on Foreign Policy

Graham was known for his interventionist approach to foreign policy. He was a staunch supporter of Israel and an advocate for military action against Iran.

Last month, in one of his final television interviews, he warned that if Iran did not recognize US control, America would completely destroy the Strait of Hormuz.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid tribute to him, calling Graham a person who understood the intrinsic link between Israel and US security.

He voted for military action against Iraq following the September 11 attacks in 2001 and opposed the 2021 decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan.

He said, ‘This is a tragic event for US national security, and it will portray America as a weakened nation.’

Personal Life

I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of United States Senator Lindsey Graham. He was a true guardian of liberty.

During the years of Russia’s aggression, he visited Ukraine 10 times and stood with the people here…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy (@ZelenskyyUa) July 12, 2026

Graham was a firm supporter of military aid to Ukraine and additional sanctions against Russia.

President Zelensky expressed deep sorrow on social media, calling him a strong leader.

Graham’s youth was marked by hardship; during his university studies, he lost both parents within two years, after which he raised and legally adopted his younger sister.

After studying law and serving as a military prosecutor and defense attorney in the U.S. Air Force, he went on to become a Senator.

Before Graham’s passing, Republicans held a narrow 53–47 majority in the Senate, and the control of the Senate is expected to be fiercely contested in November.

Meanwhile, another Republican Senator, Mitch McConnell, has been undergoing treatment for unspecified health issues, with no detailed updates on his condition from aides.