Sen. Lindsey Graham, the longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, died on the evening of Saturday, July 11, at the age of 71.
Graham’s office confirmed the news in a statement posted to his official X account at approximately 2 a.m. on July 12, attributing his death to a “brief and sudden illness.” The specific nature of that illness has not been disclosed. Graham had represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003, having previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. He also had a distinguished military career, serving in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard before retiring in 2015 as a colonel in the Air Force Reserve. At the time of his death, he had already secured the Republican primary in June and was seeking reelection ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Tributes From Washington
President Trump, who described Graham as one of the greatest people and senators he had ever known, responded to the news on Truth Social in the early morning hours of July 12. Though the two clashed during the 2016 presidential race — Trump famously read Graham’s personal cellphone number aloud at a campaign event, prompting Graham to film himself destroying his phone — Graham ultimately became one of Trump’s most steadfast allies in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-SD, also paid tribute, writing that Graham “was a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe” and that he “believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause.”
My heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham.
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…
— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) July 12, 2026
A Life of Public Service
Graham never married. The statement from his office noted that his family “appreciates prayers” during this time. No funeral arrangements have been announced.
Statement from the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). pic.twitter.com/CQ5yVvqTH1
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 12, 2026
As Graham’s office has characterized this a developing situation, further details regarding his illness and arrangements are expected to emerge in the days ahead.
