The news left his Senate colleagues stunned. President Trump called Graham one of the greatest people he's ever known.WASHINGTON — South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham died on July 11, according to his office. He was 71."On the evening of Saturday July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness," a statement posted to his social media account said. "Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period."Graham's death marks the passing of a longtime conservative fixture of the Senate, and one of President Donald Trump's closest political allies.In his more than three decades in Washington, Graham played major roles in crafting key pieces of legislation, affecting millions of Americans' lives, while also developing a reputation as a stark foreign policy hawk. The Republican died just a year after helping shepherd through the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act as the powerful chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.In a statement, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, called Graham a trusted adviser and colleague, saying "numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel.""His influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations," Thune said.President Trump, a friend of Graham's, called the South Carolina senator "one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.""He was always working, and was a true American Patriot," Trump wrote on social media. "Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!"Graham, an Air Force veteran and former state legislator, served for more than three decades on Capitol Hill. He first came to the House of Representatives after victory in the 1994 elections, before later being elected to serve in the Senate in 2002, succeeding Strom Thurmond.He was a major backer of Israel in Washington and a fierce critic of Iran. In a June appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation," Graham said the U.S. would "obliterate" the Islamic Republic if the country contested control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that has become a main point of negotiation in the Iran war. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Israel had "lost one of its greatest friends."Graham has also remained a vocal advocate for Ukraine, even as others in the GOP distanced themselves in recent years from outwardly supporting the war-torn nation. The senator had recently returned from Kyiv, the capital, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 10 to discuss Ukraine's air defense ​needs and a Russian sanctions bill.Political world reacts to Graham's deathOther tributes for Graham poured in early Sunday morning from his colleagues.Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said he would "miss his infectious laugh, quick wit, and enthusiasm for life."Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said there were "no words to describe his impact on the foreign and domestic policy of the United States.""He stood solidly for freedom and strength and he fought for liberty across the globe," Wicker said in a statement. "Lindsey Graham can be succeeded in office but he cannot be replaced."South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster called Graham "the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America," in a statement posted to X. "Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable," he said.This is a developing story.Contributing: Reuters