What To Know
- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina died at age 71 on July 11, 2026, following a brief and sudden illness.
- Graham, a Republican who served in the Senate since 2003 and previously in the House of Representatives.
- He was known for his evolving relationship with Donald Trump, initially criticizing him during the 2016 presidential campaign but later becoming a key supporter.
Lindsey Graham, the Republican U.S. Senator from South Carolina, is dead at 71.
On Sunday, July 12, the lawmaker’s office announced the news in a statement shared on social media, including X and Instagram.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” it read. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
NBC News reported that emergency services responded to a call for “cardiac arrest” at Graham’s Capitol Hill home on Saturday night, according to police scanner audio. EMS audio revealed that CPR was performed.
As of writing, a cause of death has not been publicly revealed.
Graham had been set to appear on Meet the Press on Sunday to speak about his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Statement from the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). pic.twitter.com/CQ5yVvqTH1
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 12, 2026
In a statement on Truth Social, President Donald Trump reacted to the news of Graham’s death.
“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” the POTUS, 80, wrote. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!”
Aside from politics, Graham served in the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve — retiring as a colonel in 2015 after 33 years of service.
He also represented South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
Graham was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and was seeking a fifth term in November. Most recently, he was the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.
In 2016, Graham briefly ran for president. Although he criticized Trump at the time — writing via X, “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed…….and we will deserve it” — he ultimately became a key supporter.
Graham was never married and did not have children.