US Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71

Reactions to his death spread quickly across the international stage

Rabat – US Senator Lindsey Graham, a central figure in Republican politics, has died at the age of 71.

His office confirmed today that he died after a sudden and brief illness. Reports from US media indicate that emergency services responded to a cardiac arrest at his Capitol Hill residence on Saturday night.

In a chamber where margins remain tight, his absence weakens a key pillar of support for US President Donald Trump’s agenda.

The loss also comes as Senator Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized, deepening concerns within Republican leadership.

Governor Henry McMaster now holds the authority to appoint a temporary successor, while party officials must organize a primary to select a candidate for the November 3 election.

Over decades in public life, Graham cultivated a reputation shaped by national security priorities and a firm belief in American influence abroad. Yet, his positions often placed him at the center of foreign policy debates.

Reactions to his death spread quickly across the international stage. Trump commended him as a dedicated patriot and a trusted ally.

Graham’s political evolution drew as much attention as his policy work. During the 2016 presidential race, he delivered some of the harshest criticism of Trump within the Republican Party, warning that his rise could damage its future.

His tone later shifted. He became one of Trump’s closest allies in Washington, often at his side in political battles and public appearances.

Graham’s career began long before his Senate years. He first won election to the House of Representatives in 1994 and entered the Senate in 2002. His work spanned key committees, including the Budget Committee, where he held the chair, as well as Appropriations and Judiciary.

Before politics, he served as a lawyer in the US Air Force and in the South Carolina Air National Guard.