US Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican from South Carolina and close ally of Donald Trump, died Saturday evening at the age of 71. His office confirmed the death early Sunday, stating that he passed away from a brief and sudden illness.
Graham had served in the Senate since 2003, having first been elected to the House in 1994. A key figure in the Republican party, he was running for reelection this year. Although he was once a sharp critic and skeptic of Donald Trump, he eventually became one of the president's most loyal backers and strongest political allies.
As a foreign policy hawk, Graham was a strong supporter of Israel and advocated for tough action against Iran. He had recently been in Kyiv meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with reports indicating he was in the city as recently as Friday or Saturday.