World · Lindsey Graham · ArchiveSenator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71 After Sudden IllnessAired July 12, 2026 at 3:26 PM UTCWritten September 7, 2026 at 9:22 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00We begin tonight with breaking news out0:02of Washington. Senator Lindsey Graham of0:04South Carolina has died at the age of 710:07after a brief and sudden illness.0:09His office released a statement0:11confirming his death Saturday evening0:13and asking for privacy for the family.0:15The senator was scheduled to appear on0:17NBC's Meet the Press just hours later.0:20No official cause of death has been0:22released.0:32Here's what we know so far. Senator0:35Graham was 71 years old. His office0:37attributed his death to a brief and0:39sudden illness, but no official cause0:42has been released. He had been in Kyiv0:44just days ago meeting with President0:46Zelenskyy, and President Trump spoke0:48with him by phone hours before his0:50death.0:51Days before his death, Senator Graham0:54was in Ukraine meeting with President0:55Zelenskyy, a visit that underscored his0:58long-standing commitment to supporting1:00the country against Russian aggression.1:03It was his latest in a series of1:04overseas trips that defined his Senate1:06career.1:07Tributes have poured in from across the1:09political spectrum.1:11President Trump called Graham a dear1:14friend and ally.1:15President Zelenskyy praised his1:17steadfast support for Ukraine.1:19Bipartisan colleagues from Senator Mark1:22Warner to former colleagues remembered1:24his fiery floor speeches and his close1:26friendship with the late Senator John1:28McCain.1:29With the seat now vacant, South Carolina1:32Governor Henry McMaster will appoint a1:34temporary replacement. President Trump1:37says he has a preferred candidate for1:39the seat, but declined to name them1:41publicly.1:42The timing of a special election has yet1:44to be determined, but the process is1:46expected to move quickly. Senator Graham1:49had been a fixture in South Carolina1:51politics for decades and a key1:53Republican voice on foreign policy and1:56national security.1:58His sudden death leaves a significant2:00void in the Senate and sets the stage2:02for a political succession process that2:04will be closely watched across the2:06country.2:07We will continue to follow this2:09developing story.Explore with HeyDexThe shortThe short ↗