Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Trump ally, dies at 71 : NPR
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died at age 71 on Saturday night after a brief and sudden illness, with emergency services responding to a cardiac arrest call at his Washington home.
- Graham was a prominent Senate defense hawk and influential dealmaker, known for his role in shaping President Trump's policies despite initially being a fierce Trump critic.
- He served in the Senate for nearly 25 years, was a military veteran retiring as a colonel, and was part of the bipartisan "three amigos" group focused on foreign policy and conflict zones.
- Graham was a vocal supporter of the U.S.-Israeli stance against Iran and played key roles in confirming federal judges and passing major legislation like Trump's tax bill.
- South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called Graham "irreplaceable" and will appoint a successor to complete his term, with a special election scheduled for August to select the Republican nominee.
