In brief
US Senator Lindsey Graham died Tuesday from an aortic dissection caused by cardiovascular disease, the Washington D.C. medical examiner reported. The 71‑year‑old Republican, a long‑time supporter of President Trump, was known for his interventionist foreign policy stance and had recently returned from a trip to Kyiv. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed deep sadness, noting Graham’s defense of freedom and shared values. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement for Graham’s seat until the November mid‑terms.
US Senator Lindsey Graham, a long‑time ally of President Donald Trump, died Tuesday from aortic dissection after a sudden tear in the main artery that carries blood to the heart. The Washington, D.C., medical examiner issued a preliminary finding that the cause was a cardiovascular complication. The 71‑year‑old Senator, who began his Senate career in 2002, had been a vocal supporter of military intervention overseas.
Graham’s spokesperson said that the death certificate would be pending until all toxicological and microscopic testing was finalised. He had just returned from a trip to Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.
Zelensky expressed deep sadness, writing on X: 'Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer.'
Graham was known for his interventionist stance on foreign policy and had strongly supported the war in Iran, calling for the U.S. to ‘obliterate’ Iran if it did not submit to U.S. control of the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Lindsey understood the inseparability of Israel’s and America’s security and expressed mourning for a close friend.
While Graham had once criticized Trump, he voted against convicting Trump in the 2021 impeachment trial and supported Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, citing NATO, southern border policy and conservative judicial appointments as key reasons for his support.
Following Graham’s death, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has the authority to appoint a temporary replacement to serve out the remainder of Graham’s term, which ends in January. The successor will be chosen in the November mid‑term elections. The Senate’s 53‑47 Republican majority is now one seat less, heightening the stakes for control in November.
