Trump Hails ‘True American Patriot’ Lindsey Graham After Sudden Death at 71

Senator Lindsey Graham, a political figure who transitioned from a vocal critic of Donald Trump to one of his staunchest allies, has died at 71. President Trump wasted no time in labeling him a “true American Patriot” on Truth Social, expressing his sorrow over the loss.

“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot,” Trump declared early Sunday morning.

Graham’s office confirmed his passing, attributing it to a brief and sudden illness. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon.

Graham’s political career spanned decades, serving in the Senate from 2003 until his death after a stint in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003. He held the position of chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee during Trump’s first term from 2019 to 2021.

Initially, Graham was one of Trump’s fiercest critics during the 2016 presidential campaign, even running against him for the GOP nomination. He famously warned, “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it.”

However, post-election, their relationship shifted dramatically. Graham became a vocal defender of Trump, supporting him during both impeachment trials and voting for acquittal each time. He claimed that Democrats weaponized impeachment against Trump, echoing the president’s assertion that the inquiry was a “lynching.”

After Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election, Graham initially supported Trump’s challenges to the results in battleground states but later accepted Biden’s win following the Electoral College certification.

In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential race, Graham campaigned alongside Trump and remained a key ally on foreign policy and national security issues. The two often aligned on military spending and support for Israel while taking a hard stance against Iran, China, and Russia.

In recent months, Graham emerged as one of the strongest Republican voices endorsing Trump’s military actions against Iran, arguing that such measures were essential to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.

“I have a lot of respect for President Trump. He is his own man,” Graham stated in February. “And as with all presidents, he will be held responsible for his decisions on such weighty matters. As to me, history will be very clear as to where I stood, for better or worse.”