Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) died Saturday night, his office confirmed Sunday.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” his office said in a statement.
Graham ran against Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential primary and was one of his toughest critics at first. Later, he became one of Trump’s most reliable supporters in the Senate.
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement added.
Graham, a retired Air Force Reserve colonel and former military lawyer, strongly supported the Iraq War and repeatedly called for U.S. military action against Iran. During the recent conflict, he firmly backed Trump.
Graham had just won his June 9 GOP primary, with Trump hailing his “BIG WIN” as he pursued a fifth Senate term. He remained active on Capitol Hill until his death, having announced bipartisan Russia sanctions legislation just two days earlier, on Friday.
Former White House official Joe Grogan paid tribute, saying Graham “stood up for freedom and against tyrants at every opportunity.”
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