Updated July 13, 2026 — 7:49 a.m.,first published 5:55 a.m. Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. TOTOTO Washington: World leaders are mourning the death of a giant of American politics, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been remembered for his humor, his
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Washington: World leaders are mourning the death of a giant of American politics, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been remembered for his humor, his steadfast commitment to the Israeli alliance and his friendships across political sectors.
US President Donald Trump revealed that he had spoken to Graham in the hours before his death on Saturday night (US time), possibly as early as 30 minutes, and the senator showed no signs 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 the NBC show. Meet the press. “He was like a family member to me, it’s actually very difficult… I thought he was going to live forever and it didn’t turn out that way.”
The 71-year-old South Carolina man was a politician for more than 30 years. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 before successfully moving 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” along with 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 attacks on Iran that Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began in late February.
Netanyahu, who also appears in Meet the pressHe said he was in shock after Graham’s sudden death.
“He was so full of energy and dedication that it is difficult to accept the fact that he no longer exists,” the Israeli prime minister said.
“America has lost a great patriot, Israel has lost one of the great champions of the US-Israel alliance and, frankly, I have lost a dear friend… There is simply no one like him.”
While Israel was mourning, Iran was celebrating, Netanyahu said. “Lindsey never confused good and evil. She knew exactly where the Iranian regime is and thought it was a great danger.”
Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also praised Graham as one of Israel’s best friends, who supported the Jewish state “not because it was easy, but because he believed it was right.”
Graham died Saturday night (US time) after a brief and sudden illness, his office said in a statement without providing details.
Paramedics were called to his home in Washington by a man suffering from chest pains. Later audio indicated that first responders were administering CPR for what was believed to be a heart attack.
Given his prominence and his recent return from abroad, there was significant speculation in the United States that Graham may have been poisoned or otherwise attacked 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 slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, where Iranians carried photographs of U.S. officials, including Graham, with red targets.
“At least they used a good photo of me,” Graham wrote. “Judge me by my enemies.”
However, on Sunday night, Graham’s office announced that the District of Columbia medical examiner’s preliminary findings indicated that the senator died of aortic dissection due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease – a tear in the aorta due to hardening of the arteries.
Finnish President 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 America 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 openly disagreed, 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 kindest person I think I’ve ever met in politics” and “as good a man as God has ever created.”
Vice President JD Vance, who has more isolationist views on foreign policy and was skeptical about the war against Iran, said that 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 in the world,” Vance said. “His story was fundamentally American…Lindsey had the best sense of humor in the Senate. A unique figure in our politics.”
Like Vance, Graham had been a staunch opponent of Trump, before becoming a staunch supporter. Graham contested the Republican nomination for president in 2015 before dropping out and endorsing Trump.
Flags at the White House were flown at half-staff on Sunday.
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Michael Koziol is North America correspondent for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald. He is a former Sydney editor, deputy editor of the Sun-Herald and a federal political reporter in Canberra.Connect through X either email.From our partners
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