Trump mourns death of Senator Lindsey Graham at 71

Trump called Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” after the South Carolina Republican died from a sudden illness on Saturday evening.

First Published: July 11, 2026, 11:32 PM ET

WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump mourned the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, calling him a “true American Patriot,” on a Truth Social post on July 12, 2026 at 3:21 AM ET.

Here is the full post on truthsocial: “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!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad! Trump”

Graham died on the evening of Saturday, July 11, following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness” (see cbsnews.com). He had just turned 71. No further details on the cause of death were immediately available, though a recording of an emergency call to a residence belonging to the senator referenced a dispatch for cardiac arrest (see cbsnews.com).

Graham had served in the Senate since 2003, representing South Carolina, and was running for re-election in November (see theguardian.com). He visited Ukraine on Friday, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “I’m grateful to Lindsey for recognizing our warriors,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media after the visit (see theguardian.com).

A retired Air Force reserve colonel who specialized as a military lawyer, Graham was known as a foreign policy hawk who supported the Iraq war and long urged military action against Iran (see theguardian.com). He opposed the nuclear agreement negotiated by President Barack Obama and had been one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders on the current Iran conflict.

Graham ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 and was a sharp critic of Trump at the time, calling him a “jackass” and “the most flawed nominee in the history of the Republican party” (see theguardian.com). Trump in turn dismissed Graham as an “idiot” and a “lightweight.” Once Trump consolidated power in the party, Graham became a valued ally and close confidant who golfed regularly with the president.

Graham wavered only briefly after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. “Count me out. Enough is enough,” he said on the Senate floor that night (see theguardian.com). His rebellion did not last, and he refused to vote to convict Trump at the subsequent impeachment trial. He endorsed Trump again in 2024.

“To all the people listening, if this diplomatic effort fails, President Trump is going to take the Strait of Hormuz. We’re going to run it,” Graham said on “Face the Nation” three weeks before his death (see cbsnews.com).

Graham’s death marks the passing of the last of the so-called “three amigos” — Graham, Joe Lieberman and John McCain — senators and close friends who each made unsuccessful bids for the presidency. McCain died in 2018 and Lieberman in 2024 (see theguardian.com).

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said in a statement, “Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend” (see theguardian.com). Israel’s President Isaac Herzog said he was “shocked and heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of the great American patriot” (see cbsnews.com).

Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, on July 9, 1955. He attended the University of South Carolina for his undergraduate and law degrees, served in the military and practiced law before winning a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He won election to the U.S. House in 1994 before moving to the Senate in 2002, capturing the seat once held by Strom Thurmond (see cbsnews.com).

McMaster will appoint a replacement to serve until a special election can be held. Graham’s death reshapes the political landscape in a chamber where Republicans hold a narrow majority.

Trump has posted 22 times on the topic of “Personal Praise, Greetings & Tributes” out of 521 total Truth Social posts in the last 30 days, according to a Zenger analysis.