U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after 'brief and sudden illness'

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, passed away on July 11 after a “brief and sudden illness,” his office said in a statement in the early hours of July 12.

No further details were immediately given regarding the senator’s passing. Graham’s family “appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement said.

Graham was 71. He had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003.

Tributes poured in for the late senator overnight through July 12. U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Graham was “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.”

“He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!” Trump said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune wrote on X that his “heart is heavy” after Graham’s passing. He described Graham as “a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe.”

“He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause,” Thune said.

And South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster described him in a media statement as “the fiercest of…