July 13, 2026 — 2:56pmFor weeks, Washington was mystified by the status of Mitch McConnell, the outgoing Republican senator who finally surfaced on Sunday after being admitted to hospital in mid-June.That has now taken a back seat to the sudden death of Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who, unlike McConnell, was seeking re-election in November, and had much more public service left to contribute.Senator Lindsey Graham (left) speaks to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell before an address by Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s first lady, in Washington, DC, in 2022. BloombergBoth men, but more so Graham, were part of a Republican old guard on foreign policy, supporting aggressive military intervention around the world – particularly against Iran – and close relations with America’s traditional allies.Graham was the last surviving member of the so-called “Three Amigos”, alongside Republican senator John McCain and Democrat-turned independent Joe Lieberman, who shared similarly hawkish views on national security.He was also an old-school Washington character. A 2010 New York Times Magazine profile noted Graham could not cook and had a penchant for Chick-fil-A, Baileys liqueur and almond schnapps.(From left to right) Senators Lindsey Graham, Joe Lieberman and John McCain watch the Super Bowl in a hotel lobby bar in 2008. Graham had a penchant for Chick-fil-A, Baileys liqueur and almond schnapps.
Lindsey Graham, the ‘Three Amigos’ and the shifting politics of Israel
The veteran Republican senator was as old-school as they get in Washington, DC, and his death removes one of Israel’s staunchest allies of in the White House.
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