US Senator Lindsey Graham has died , shortly after falling suddenly ill, according to his communications director.
Graham, 71, was a senior senator from South Carolina.
The family of Senator Graham appreciates the well-wishes at this time and requests that their privacy be respected during this very difficult period.”
US President Donald Trump mourned his prominent ally Graham, describing him as “one of the greatest people” he had ever known.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people I have ever known, has passed away! He was a hard worker and a true American patriot. He will be greatly missed by everyone.”
Graham is one of the most vocal pro-Israel officials in the United States, and has previously stated that supporting Israel is a “religious and moral responsibility.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on Graham's death, saying: "Israel has lost one of its greatest friends, and I have lost a dear friend."
In separate posts on the X platform, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett described Graham as a true friend of Israel and one of its strongest supporters.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said: “I am deeply saddened by the death of US Senator Graham, who stood by Israel in its most difficult moments.”
In August 2025, Graham, in a speech to a Republican gathering of evangelical groups in South Carolina, criticized the use of the term “genocide” to describe what was happening in Gaza, saying: “I am sick of this label. Let me show you who the real genocidal party is.”
Graham stressed that Israel, despite its military strength, adheres to law and morality: “Israel has the power to completely destroy the Gaza Strip if it wanted to, but it chooses to abide by law and morality. If Hamas had half this power, it would have carried out its plan in minutes.”
He also emphasized the religious dimension in that speech, saying: “Supporting Israel is not a political choice, but a moral and religious responsibility. If America withdraws its support from it, God will withdraw His mercy from us. And we will not allow that.”
Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002. According to his website, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 for South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District before entering the Senate.
His website stated that Graham, known for his hawkish stances on defense, “consistently sought to achieve results in the war on terror that protect our long-term national security interests.” Graham most recently chaired the Senate Budget Committee. He was also a member of the Appropriations Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Environment and Public Works Committee. He was unmarried and resided in Seneca, South Carolina.
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