NPR | Sunday, July 12, 2026 
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Trump ally and foreign policy hawk, dies at 71

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died late Saturday night following a “brief and sudden illness,” according to a statement released by his office. He was 71. Preliminary findings from the District of Columbia medical examiner showed the cause of death as aortic dissection due to a type of heart disease, Graham’s office shared on Sunday. An adaptable and sometimes controversial dealmaker, Graham was the last surviving member of an influential group of Senate defense hawks. During his near-quarter century in the Senate, Graham was also instrumental in enacting President Trump’s policy and staffing priorities — after first starting out as a fierce Trump critic. Trump shared a remembrance on his Truth Social platform: “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot.” Trump asked that U.S. flags be lowered to half-staff until the evening at 6 p.m. ET in memory of Graham. Graham’s death comes at a difficult moment for the Senate Republican conference, which has struggled with a narrow majority that includes a handful of outgoing members who occasionally break ranks to oppose the president. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called Graham “a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe,” in a statement posted on X. “Lindsey fought passionately for the Palmetto State. He was a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel.” – Read more