Trump praises Graham as ‘one of the greatest people I have ever known’
Lindsey Graham’s death is a personal blow to Donald Trump, for whom he was a political cheerleader and frequent golf partner. The president praised Graham, one of his closest allies, on Truth Social and said details on funeral arrangements would follow.
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. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!
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Wyoming Republican John Barrasso said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of his “dear friend”. He wrote on X:
My prayers are with his family and all who loved him.
Lindsey represented South Carolina and America with pride and determination. He guided the Senate through our toughest battles while Chairman of both the Judiciary Committee and the Budget Committee. He carried the day with his mission clarity and steadfast leadership.
All of us in the Senate will miss his quick wit and infectious laughter. The Senate will never again see anyone quite like Senator Lindsey Graham.
Republican senator Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, called Lindsey Graham “an American original”.
A truly self-made man, he lost his parents at an early age and cared for his younger sister. That same sense of responsibility and duty took him into the Air Force and the Congress. Lindsey was a great champion for our military, our troops, and our national security. A lover of liberty and a true patriot, Lindsey never stopped working on behalf of South Carolina and America. His premature death is a tragedy for all those who knew him. Anna and I join all Arkansans in extending our deepest condolences to Lindsey’s family and friends.
GOP senator Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, wrote on X:
Lindsey and I came into the Senate at the same time over two decades ago. Throughout that time he has been my friend and a true leader for our country. It is hard to convey the loss that I feel knowing that we will no longer have his leadership in the Senate. Verne and I send our prayers to his family and all those who knew and loved him.
Texas Republican senator Ted Cruz called Graham “a fearless patriot, a devoted public servant, and one of the fiercest advocates for America’s national security”.
He loved this country deeply, and he dedicated his life to defending it. For years, I had the privilege of serving alongside Lindsey in the Senate. We fought shoulder to shoulder for conservative judges, stood together with our allies, and never wavered in confronting America’s adversaries.
Heidi’s and my prayers are with his family, his devoted staff, and the people of South Carolina. His friendship, his sparkling humor, and his unwavering commitment to our nation will be deeply missed.
May God grant him eternal rest.
Senate majority leader John Thune paid tribute this morning to his Graham’s legacy, calling him a “strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe”.
My heart is heavy this morning to learn of the passing of my friend and colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham.
Lindsey’s long and dedicated service in the Air Force and in Congress carried him to far-flung regions of the world. He was a strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe. He believed in the might of America to achieve good in the world and dedicated his life to advancing that cause.
As South Carolina’s senior senator, Lindsey fought passionately for the Palmetto State. He was a trusted adviser and colleague to me and many others, and numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel. His influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations.
Kimberley and I pray for Lindsey’s friends and family, and we send our heartfelt condolences during this most difficult time.
South Carolina Democrat James Clyburn characterized his political relationship with Lindsey Graham as “sometimes partisan and passionate, but always pleasant and productive on behalf of the people of South Carolina.”
Sending his condolences to Graham’s sister and family, Clyburn added:
For more than three decades, we served the people of the Palmetto state together in Congress. Throughout that time, we maintained a relationship grounded in mutual respect, even when our political differences were significant. His commitment to public service and the people he represented will remain an enduring part of his legacy.
Republican representative Ralph Norman paid tribute to Graham, writing on Facebook that their state of South Carolina had “lost a devoted public servant”.
“Senator Lindsey Graham dedicated his life to serving our state and our country. His passing is a tremendous loss,” he said. “Elaine and I are praying for his family, his staff, and the countless friends whose lives he touched. May God grant them peace and strength in the days ahead.”
Fellow South Carolina GOP representative Joe Wilson wrote that he was “shocked and saddened” to hear of Graham’s death.
“Having served as a South Carolina state representative, US Representative, US Senator, and as a decorated veteran of the US Air Force, Lindsey proudly served the people of the Palmetto State and America. He will always be cherished as a Patriot, tireless for Peace Through Strength, successfully defeating totalitarians,” Wilson wrote. “All three generations of the Wilson family extend deepest sympathy and appreciation for his dedicated service and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. The country has lost a beloved leader — and I have lost a respected colleague and friend. Lindsey will be missed.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt joined others in saying, “America has lost a statesman.”
“President Trump and the White House have lost a friend,” she wrote on X. “Rest in Peace, Senator Graham.”
‘We certainly had our disagreements, but I couldn’t help but like him’: Vance on Graham
Vice-president JD Vance has now shared this tribute to Lindsey Graham:
Lindsey Graham came from humble beginnings and became one of the most powerful lawmakers in the most powerful nation on Earth. His story was a fundamentally American one.
Early in my Senate tenure, I remember getting into a shouting match with Lindsey about a Ukraine funding bill at lunch and then learning the very next day that he was pushing rail legislation I really cared about behind the scenes. That was Lindsey Graham. He fought like hell for the things he believed in, and he was just as willing to go to bat for you when it counted.
Lindsey had the best sense of humor in the Senate. He loved the game of politics. He was constantly asking which races were up and down, and how he could help. As he liked to say, ‘I don’t care if you’re an isolationist or a religious fanatic, so long as you have an R next to your name, I want you to win.’
We certainly had our disagreements. But I couldn’t help but like him. A one of a kind figure in our politics. I’ll be praying for him and his family.
GOP representative Nancy Mace has also paid tribute to Graham, whom she called a “giant” for their state of South Carolina.
She wrote on X:
South Carolina lost a giant last night. For more than three decades, Lindsey Graham gave everything he had to this state and this country, from the Air Force to the United States Senate.
We did not always agree, but no one ever questioned his love for South Carolina or the fight he brought to every room he walked into.
Please join me in praying for his family and for all who called him a friend. Rest easy, Senator.
Annie Andrews, the Democratic nominee in South Carolina’s Senate race, also paid tribute to Graham for his public service. She wrote on X:
I hope that South Carolinians will join me in setting partisanship aside and offering gratitude to Senator Lindsey Graham for his service to the great state of South Carolina.
Fellow South Carolina Republican Tim Scott paid tribute to Graham this morning, calling him a “true statesman”.
“America’s lost a true statesman. We don’t have many left, but he was a true statesman,” Scott told CNN’s State of the Union, “but I’ve lost a friend.”
Scott, South Carolina’s first black senator and the first black senator from a southern state since the reconstruction era, also recalled being welcomed “with open arms” by Graham when he took office in 2013.
He knew that my path was different. He understood the power of change in South Carolina and how much our state had changed, but he was one of the first folks in the Senate to welcome me in with open arms.
Trump says he has someone in mind to replace Graham but ‘it’s too soon’ after his death to say
On that, Donald Trump said he has someone in mind for serving the remainder of Graham’s term in Congress.
“I have somebody that I think would be great, but I don’t want to say it now because it just, you know, it’s too soon with Lindsey,” Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press.
“They’ll have some people joining. Some are good, some are bad,” he said. “I never thought I’d be in this position. I thought Lindsey was going to be living forever … He was going to win by a lot.”
