Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was celebrated by his Senate colleagues and others Sunday morning, after the news of his death Saturday evening.
Graham died after a “brief and sudden illness,” according to a statement from his office, and EMS radios showed reports of cardiac arrest. He had served in Congress for nearly 32 years. He was a U.S. representative from 1995-2003 and was then elected to the Senate, where he had served ever since.
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“My heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said Sunday morning. “Lindsey’s long and dedicated service in the Air Force and in Congress carried him to far-flung regions of the world. He was a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe. He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) said she was “stunned” to hear the news.
“I am stunned and deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend, Senator Lindsey Graham,” Ernst said. “The Senate has lost a bold leader whose influence will be felt for generations. Please join me in praying for his family and loved ones during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Graham’s South Carolina counterpart in the Senate, said he will be missed.
“South Carolina lost a statesman and I’ve lost a friend,” Scott said. “My prayers are with his sister and the rest of his family. From his humble beginnings to the Senate floor, Lindsey always led with faith, family, and South Carolina first. Lindsey remained committed to public service and doing what he loved. He always introduced levity and brought wit to the most challenging moments.
Vice President JD Vance, himself a former Senate colleague of Graham, remembered Graham’s humor and eagerness to help.
“Lindsey had the best sense of humor in the Senate. He loved the game of politics,” Vice President JD Vance wrote on X on Sunday morning. “He was constantly asking which races were up and down, and how he could help.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called Graham a “great American and Patriot.”
“As a Senator he worked tirelessly for our country. It was an honor to call him my friend,” Bessent said. And work with him to advance President Trump’s agenda at home and on the international stage. Lindsey was a one-of-a-kind politician who could speak at length on both global defense policy and South Carolina kitchen table issues. He will be missed across our state, country and the entire globe.
Many colleagues from across the aisle also remarked on Graham’s sense of humor, with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) remembering the senator as “larger than life” and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) saying, “His legislative skills and ever-present wit will be sorely missed by those of us fortunate enough to have served with him.”
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said, “Lindsey and I disagreed on plenty over the years, but I never doubted his love for this country or his commitment to serving it. He was a fierce advocate for the causes he believed in, especially our nation’s security and the men and women of our armed forces. But what I’ll remember just as much was Lindsey’s sense of humor. He had a quick wit, a sharp laugh, and an uncanny ability to break the tension with a well-timed joke or story. Even in the toughest moments, he never lost his ability to connect with people, and those personal relationships often mattered more to him than the political disagreements of the day.”
Just as present were tributes to his military service and support for U.S. troops. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) said Graham “lived a life of service to our country.”
“Lindsey Graham was an American original,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) said. “A truly self-made man, he lost his parents at an early age and cared for his younger sister. That same sense of responsibility and duty took him into the Air Force and the Congress. Lindsey was a great champion for our military, our troops, and our national security. A lover of liberty and a true patriot, Lindsey never stopped working on behalf of South Carolina and America. His premature death is a tragedy for all those who knew him. Anna and I join all Arkansans in extending our deepest condolences to Lindsey’s family and friends.
Ever present in the reflections on Graham’s life and work was his commitment to foreign policy, with Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) saying, “The United States Senate lost a foreign policy giant. On a personal level, he had always been kind, gracious, and thoughtful.”
Many foreign leaders weighed in on the news as well, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling Graham a “dear friend.”
“Lindsey understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable,” Netanyahu said. “He devoted his life to defending America, strengthening our alliance and standing up for the free world. Israel has lost one of its greatest friends. America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend. Our hearts are with Lindsey’s family and with the American people at this difficult time. May his values and initiatives continue to guide us toward victory and peace, and may his memory forever be a blessing.
Graham was in Ukraine earlier this week and visited a drone factory with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his 10th visit to the war-torn country.
LINDSEY GRAHAM DEAD AT 71 AFTER ‘BRIEF AND SUDDEN ILLNESS’
“Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer. He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed. We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations,” Zelensky said.
“America and the world have lost a determined leader. Our condolences go out to Lindsey’s family, loved ones, and everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him,” he added.
