Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican figure and staunch advocate for American military engagement, died at 71 after a sudden illness. His death followed a trip to Ukraine, his tenth since Russia's full-scale invasion, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and toured a drone factory. Just before his death, Graham announced a deal with the Trump administration for a new package of sanctions against Russia, a long-sought policy he called "sanctions from hell."
Graham's passing was attributed to a tear in his aorta, stemming from hardened arteries, according to a preliminary medical examiner's report. He had reportedly sounded "a little bit tired" after returning from Ukraine on Saturday night. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from world leaders and colleagues across the political spectrum, including former President Donald Trump, who called him "like a member of the family."
A former Air Force lawyer and a hawkish voice on foreign policy, Graham had served in Congress for over three decades. He was known for his political flexibility, transitioning from a determined opponent of Donald Trump in 2016 to one of his staunchest allies. His commitment to NATO and support for Ukraine were consistently highlighted, particularly his role in pushing for bipartisan support for Ukraine and advocating for direct confrontation with Iran.
