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Or sign-in if you have an account.U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, during a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense hearing on May 12, 2026. Photo by Jim WATSON /AFP via Getty ImagesProminent U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a key ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, died on Saturday aged 71 following a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorGraham, known for his foreign policy work, was a staunch supporter of the Iran war and in recent years urged both Trump and the Biden administrations to back Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion.“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” the Republican senator from South Carolina’s office said in a statement on his official X account.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”Trump paid tribute to the influential senator on Sunday, calling him “one of the greatest people” in a post on his Truth Social site.“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. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!”Graham made a failed bid for the presidency in 2016, warning at the time that Republicans should not back Trump because he was a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.”Their relationship was strained by the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, with Graham saying his Republican colleagues should “count me out, enough is enough” — although he later voted against convicting Trump in his impeachment trial.Graham reconciled their relationship after Trump returned to office, and supported his re-election bid.Graham was also a strong supporter of Israel and a hawkish backer of the Iran war.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “Lindsey is a great friend of Israel and a cherished friend of mine.”“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable. He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office.Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the news left him “shocked and heartbroken.”“Senator Graham was a beacon of moral clarity and a true leader of the U.S.-Israel partnership,” he said in a post on X.“We will never forget how he stood by the people of Israel in our most difficult moments, and we will remain eternally grateful for his sense of justice, truth, and loyalty,” Herzog said.Graham was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, before being elected to the Senate in 2002.He was later re-elected to the Senate in 2008, 2014 and 2020, and most recently served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster described Graham as “irreplaceable.”“The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend,” McMaster said in a post on X.Graham served as a military lawyer and attained the rank of air force colonel, an experience that informed his interventionist stance in foreign policy.In 2002, he voted in favour of military action against Iraq in the wake of the September 11 attacks, and later supported a long-term U.S. presence in Afghanistan.Graham was a frequent critic of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy, calling him a “weak opponent of evil” in 2015 over his negotiation of a nuclear deal with Iran.Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv as recently as Friday, where he reportedly supported tougher economic sanctions on Russia and its allies.Zelensky said on X that he appreciated Graham’s support, noting that it was the American senator’s 10th visit to his country.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. 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