Republican senator had served in the Senate since 2003 and was a sharp critic of Trump before becoming one of his most loyal backers

The South Carolina senator’s office said the 71-year-old died after a “brief and sudden illness.”

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham died Saturday after a brief and unexpected illness, his office said in statement posted on social media.

South Carolina Senator and US President Donald Trump's close aide passed away on Saturday at the age of 71.