Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) died unexpectedly on Saturday at the age of 71 after a brief and sudden illness. His office confirmed the news on Sunday, stating that the four-term senator had returned from a trip to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, before falling ill.
Graham, a prominent figure in the Senate for 23 years, was known for his influence on corporate tax policy, defense spending, and trade. He played a key role in passing the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. He also supported increased defense budgets, directing billions of dollars in military spending to his home state of South Carolina.
Graham’s political career underwent a significant shift after his early opposition to Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential primary. Initially a vocal critic, he later became one of Trump’s most loyal allies in the Senate. This transformation included his support for Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, including a call to Georgia’s secretary of state to rework the state’s vote count.
Graham’s foreign policy stance, shaped by his close relationship with the late Sen. John McCain, emphasized American interventionism and support for democratic alliances. However, his alignment with Trump led to criticism from some who saw it as a departure from his earlier principles. His legacy includes both policy achievements and a controversial political evolution.