WASHINGTON — Veterans, allied leaders and current and former officials paid tribute on Sunday to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, remembering his decades of military service and his prominent role in shaping U.S. foreign policy after the South Carolina Republican died at age 71 following what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.”
Messages of condolence highlighted Graham's longstanding advocacy for NATO, strong U.S. alliances and support for Ukraine and Israel, reflecting the international relationships he cultivated during more than three decades in Congress. His office announced his death but did not disclose a cause.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met Graham twice during the senator's recent visit to Kyiv, said Graham had traveled to Ukraine 10 times since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and praised him as "a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer." Graham had announced shortly before his death that he had reached agreement with the Trump administration to advance a sanctions package targeting Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and leaders from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Germany also honored Graham, describing him as a consistent supporter of the trans-Atlantic alliance and European security. Several officials said his advocacy helped reinforce allied cooperation during periods of heightened tension with Russia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Graham a close friend of Israel, while other Israeli officials credited him with maintaining steadfast support for the country's security policies throughout his Senate career. Graham's strong backing of Israel and his hawkish positions on Iran made him an influential voice in U.S. foreign policy debates, although those positions also drew criticism from some governments and advocacy groups in the Middle East.
At home, Senate Majority Leader John Thune described Graham as a trusted adviser and a strong advocate for the United States and its allies. President Donald Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff and said Graham had been "like a member of the family," recalling that the senator had recently returned from Ukraine before his death.
A former Air Force lawyer who later served in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve before retiring as a colonel, Graham frequently cited his military experience when arguing for an active U.S. role abroad. He remained deeply engaged in national security issues until his final days, according to public statements from U.S. and foreign officials.
South Carolina officials are expected to begin the process of filling Graham's Senate seat under state law, while tributes from veterans' groups, allied governments and congressional colleagues continued through Sunday.
