Lindsey Graham obit

Longtime GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after 'brief and sudden illness'

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, the longtime South Carolina politician and influential voice on national security and the judiciary, has died at 71.

 He was not on the list.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has died at the age of 71 following what his office described as a "brief and sudden" illness.

In a statement released early Sunday morning, Graham's office confirmed his passing and said his family is requesting privacy as they mourn. The longtime South Carolina Republican had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003 after first being elected in 2002 and was seeking a fifth Senate term after winning the Republican primary last month.

President Donald Trump paid tribute to Graham on Truth Social, calling him "a true American Patriot" and saying he would be "greatly missed." South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster also honored Graham, describing him as an "irreplaceable" leader and a loyal friend.

During his more than three decades in elected office, Graham served on several influential Senate committees, including Appropriations, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works.

Before joining the Senate, he represented South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.Graham remained active in foreign policy until his death. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday and was scheduled to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve, Graham retired as a colonel in 2015 after 33 years of military service, including deployments during the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., as a steadfast defender of the U.S.-Israel alliance, saying his support reflected the broader stakes of American leadership as the Iran war tests the region.

“It takes people like Lindsey Graham to keep that alliance going,” Netanyahu told Sunday's "Fox & Friends," calling Graham “clear,” “candid” and “encouraging.”

Netanyahu said Graham understood that America’s role in the world remains essential, arguing that without U.S. leadership, “there would be no liberty in the world.”

"Lindsey Graham had it right: He knew that, in fact, if the Middle East were to collapse, to fall into the hands of Iran, which is now trying, has tried to do that, or the fall of American enemies, your, energy costs would skyrocket and would never come down. You'd be under perpetual blackmail of these tyrannical terrorist regimes.

"They would develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to every American city. He saw that as something that is not only economically strangling. It could actually it could actually extinguish your lives. So he was he talked about that with me many times. It wasn't something that he put out as a as a spin. He believed it. And you know what? He was absolutely right."

The Israeli leader cast the U.S.-Israel partnership as rooted in shared democratic values, individual rights and a commitment to human life.

He contrasted that alliance with Iran’s regime, saying Israel and the U.S. “stand for something else.”

“We’re the only democracy in the Middle East,” Netanyahu said. “We represent individual rights. We value every human life.”

Netanyahu said Graham’s backing was not just political but personal, adding that his encouragement “went right to my heart.”

Chief congressional correspondent Chad Pergram joined "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Sunday to discuss the sudden passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Pergram noted that Graham's death comes as Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., remains hospitalized and his health situation is unknown.

"The Senate is supposed to come back, obviously, in the coming days here so they have to figure out, you know, what his status is," Pergram said. "But now the Senate is, on the Republican side of the aisle, down to 51 votes."

"They have trouble moving things through the Senate right now, so what will they do to replace him?" he continued, adding that South Carolina law indicates someone will be appointed to fill Graham's seat.

Fox News' Sean Hannity paid his respects to Sen. Lindsey Graham in a statement on X early Sunday morning, calling the deceased senator a "dear friend."

"Most people do not know his life’s story. He grew up living over a bar run by his family. After the early death of his parents he personally stepped up to provide for, and raise, his younger sister. He then became a Congressman and later a Senator," Hannity wrote.

"Contrary to a public narrative that he was a war hawk, it was the opposite that is true. He wanted an end to the war with Russia and Ukraine and end all conflicts in the Middle East. There is no elected official that traveled to these regions more than Senator Graham. His dream for the Middle East was that of a lasting peace in the region between every nation and his hope was this could all be accomplished by the early fall. This is something he loved to discuss with President Trump and others day and night," he continued.

"I pray his dream of a lasting peace is realized sooner than later. There was simply nobody in elected office that loved his job and worked harder," he added.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune honored Sen. Lindsey Graham early Sunday morning, praising his deceased colleague as a "trusted adviser."

"My heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham," Thune wrote on X.

"Lindsey’s long and dedicated service in the Air Force and in Congress carried him to far-flung regions of the world. He was 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," he continued.

"As South Carolina’s senior senator, Lindsey fought passionately for the Palmetto State. He was a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel. His influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations," he wrote.

"Kimberley and I pray for Lindsey’s friends and family, and we send our heartfelt condolences during this most difficult time," he added.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster released a statement early Sunday morning saying he is "devastated" by the news of Sen. Lindsey Graham's passing.

"Peggy and I – and our children – are devastated," he said in a statement. "Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America – and a loyal and steadfast friend. We grieve with Darline, his family and his developed staff. May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again."

Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and won reelection three times. He was seeking a fifth Senate term after winning the Republican primary last month.

Graham served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and sat on the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works committees.

Before joining the Senate, Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, becoming the first Republican to represent South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District since 1877.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is mourning the death of his longtime friend and colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham, calling him a statesman who dedicated his life to serving South Carolina.

In a statement released Sunday, Scott said Graham led with "faith, family, and South Carolina first" throughout his decades in public office."South Carolina lost a statesman and I've lost a friend," Scott said. "My prayers are with his sister and the rest of his family."

Scott praised Graham's commitment to public service, saying he remained devoted to his work until the end and brought humor and perspective even during difficult moments.

"Lindsey remained committed to public service and doing what he loved," Scott said. "He always introduced levity and brought wit to the most challenging moments."

Scott concluded his tribute by saying simply, "Lindsey will be missed."Graham died Sunday at the age of 71 following what his office described as a "brief and sudden" illness.

The South Carolina Republican had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and was one of the state's longest-serving elected officials.