Washington: World leaders are mourning the death of a giant of American politics, Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who has been remembered for his humour, staunch commitment to the Israeli alliance and friendships across the political aisle.
US President Donald Trump revealed he had spoken with Graham in the hours before his death on Saturday night (US time) – possibly as soon as 30 minutes – and the senator showed no sign of ill health, other than being tired after returning from a trip to Ukraine that day.
“It could have been his last call,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press. “He was like a member of the family to me, it’s very tough actually … I thought he was just going to live forever and it didn’t work out that way.”
The 71-year-old from South Carolina was a politician for more than 30 years. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 before successfully switching to the Senate in 2002.
Graham was one of Washington’s most outspoken war hawks and foreign policy interventionists, known for being the last surviving member of the so-called “Three Amigos” alongside Republican John McCain and Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman.
He was also one of the most pro-Israel members of Congress, and a key cheerleader for the strikes on Iran that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began at the end of February.
Netanyahu, also appearing on Meet the Press, said he was in a state of shock following Graham’s sudden death.
“He was so full of energy and dedication that it’s hard to accept the fact that he is no more,” the Israeli prime minister said.
“America has lost a great patriot, Israel has lost one of the great champions of the America-Israeli alliance, and frankly I’ve lost a beloved friend … There’s just no one like him.”
While Israel was grieving, Iran was celebrating, Netanyahu said. “Lindsey never confused good and evil. He knew exactly where the Iranian regime is, he thought it was a great danger.”
Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also praised Graham as one of Israel’s greatest friends, who stood by the Jewish state “not because it was easy, but because he believed it was right”.
Graham died on Saturday night (US time) following a brief and sudden illness, his office said in a statement without providing details.
Paramedics were called to his home in Washington for a man suffering chest pains. Later audio indicated responders were administering CPR for what was believed to be a heart attack.
Given his prominence and recent return from overseas, there was significant conjecture in the US that Graham may have been poisoned or otherwise targeted by Russia or Iran. The speculation was amplified by Trump-aligned conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who has 2 million followers on X.
Just days before his death, Graham shared a clip on social media from the Tehran funeral of Iran’s assassinated supreme leader Ali Khamenei, where Iranians carried pictures of American officials – including Graham – with red targets on them.
“At least they used a good photo of me,” Graham wrote. “Judge me by my enemies.”
FBI director Kash Patel said his agency was assisting local authorities, though he provided no indication of suspected foul play. The FBI did not immediately respond to further questions.
President of Finland Alexander Stubb, who has established good relations with Trump, praised Graham as a personal friend and supporter of Ukraine, NATO and the transatlantic alliance.
“Not a week went by without an exchange of ideas,” he said. “Thank you for everything you did to keep the US and Europe intact. You will be missed by many of us.”
Former president Joe Biden, who served alongside Graham in the Senate, said that although they often disagreed loudly, they shared a mutual understanding of the importance of public service.
“Like me, he loved the Senate as an institution, even with all its flaws and complexities,” he said.
Biden’s son Hunter recalled a 2015 documentary in which an emotional Graham called Joe Biden “the nicest person I think I’ve ever met in politics” and “as good a man as God ever created”.
Vice President JD Vance, who holds more isolationist foreign policy views, and was a sceptic of the war against Iran, said despite their disagreements on some issues, “I couldn’t help but like him”.
Graham rose from humble beginnings to become “one of the most powerful lawmakers in the most powerful nation on earth” Vance said. “His story was a fundamentally American one … Lindsey had the best sense of humour in the Senate. A one of a kind figure in our politics.”
Like Vance, Graham had been a staunch opponent of Trump, before converting to a full-throated supporter. Graham contested the Republican nomination for president in 2015 before dropping out and endorsing Trump.
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Michael Koziol is the North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, Sun-Herald deputy editor and a federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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