US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham passes away

Influential Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a veteran lawmaker from South Carolina and one of former President Donald Trump's closest allies in Congress, has died at the age of 71 following a brief illness.

Graham's communications director in a post on X on Sunday (July 12), confirmed that the senator passed away on Saturday evening (US local time).

According to Reuters, Graham was one of the Republican Party's most prominent figures. Although he emerged as a fierce critic of Donald Trump during the early stages of the billionaire's political rise, he later became one of Trump's most loyal supporters and a key political ally on Capitol Hill.

In a statement, Graham's office said his family expressed gratitude for the prayers and support received while requesting privacy during this difficult time.

According to his official biography, Graham was first elected to the US House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District in 1994 before winning election to the US Senate in 2002, where he went on to serve multiple consecutive terms.

Throughout his career, Graham was known for his hawkish positions on foreign policy and national security, consistently advocating robust military action over diplomatic solutions. He most recently served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was also a member of the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works Committees.

A lifelong bachelor, Graham resided in Seneca, South Carolina.