Washington, July 13 (ANI): U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican lawmaker who helped shape American foreign policy for decades and served as a key adviser to President Donald Trump, died Saturday evening following a sudden medical emergency. He was 71.
According to a report by The Hill, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C., said Sunday that Graham died of an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The report said Washington, D.C., Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Francisco Diaz noted that the investigation remains ongoing. The Medical Examiner’s office said “the death certificate will be pending until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death.”
The office said the official documentation will remain incomplete until all laboratory testing has been completed.
In a statement posted on social media early Sunday, Graham’s family said they “appreciate prayers at this time and ask for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
The statement did not provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Tributes have poured in from across the U.S. political spectrum.
President Donald Trump, who maintained frequent contact with Graham, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the senator was “like a member of the family. It’s very tough.”
Trump said Graham had called him Saturday evening after returning from an official trip to Ukraine and “sounded a little bit tired, but perfect.”
Following news of Graham’s death, Trump ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff through Saturday evening.
A former U.S. Air Force attorney who served in Congress for three decades, Graham was widely recognized as a leading foreign policy hawk and an influential voice on national security issues.
He served as a key adviser to the Trump administration on major geopolitical matters, including U.S. policy toward Iran and relations with Russia.
On Friday, shortly before his death, Graham announced a joint agreement with the White House to advance a broad legislative package on sanctions against Russia.
As chair of the Senate Budget Committee, he also played a central role during Trump’s second term, helping advance the administration’s legislative agenda in a Senate controlled by Republicans with a 53-47 majority.
Graham was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives. Throughout his career, he consistently advocated for a strong national defense and an assertive U.S. military presence abroad.
His relationship with Trump evolved dramatically over the years.
During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Graham sharply criticized Trump, calling him “unfit for office” after Trump made controversial remarks about the late Sen. John McCain, one of Graham’s closest friends.
In response, Trump publicly read Graham’s personal cellphone number during a campaign rally in South Carolina and repeatedly mocked him.
Despite their early political clashes, Graham later became one of Trump’s closest allies, frequently advising the president and accompanying him on golf outings.
Graham’s death brings to a close a lengthy congressional career during which he played a significant role in shaping debates on foreign policy, judicial appointments, federal spending, and immigration. (ANI)
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