World
US Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71
Graham, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was widely recognised as one of the most prominent and influential voices within the Republican Party on defence and foreign policy.
South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in the November midterm election at the time of his passing. (Courtesy photo)
By: AFP ., Journalist @New Vision
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WASHINGTON — US Senator Lindsey Graham, a close political ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday night "from a brief and sudden illness" at the age of 71, his office said in a statement early Sunday.
There was no indication the senator from South Carolina was feeling unwell before his death, NBC News cited a top staffer to Graham as saying early Sunday. He had been scheduled to appear on NBC News' "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
Graham, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was widely recognised as one of the most prominent and influential voices within the Republican Party on defence and foreign policy.
He repeatedly pushed for aggressive US military actions abroad, maintaining a hawkish stance on Iran and vigorously defending the war.
He repeatedly pushed for aggressive US military actions abroad, maintaining a hawkish stance on Iran and vigorously defending the war.
Graham was elected to the US Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014 and 2020.
He formally ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015, but once Trump won the presidency in 2016, he underwent a massive political pivot and started backing the president.
In the following years, Graham became one of Trump's most loyal defenders and closest confidants.
Graham was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in the November midterm election. His sudden death leaves an immediate vacuum on the ballot, forcing South Carolina Republicans to quickly find a replacement nominee.
He formally ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015, but once Trump won the presidency in 2016, he underwent a massive political pivot and started backing the president.
In the following years, Graham became one of Trump's most loyal defenders and closest confidants.
Graham was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in the November midterm election. His sudden death leaves an immediate vacuum on the ballot, forcing South Carolina Republicans to quickly find a replacement nominee.