BREAKING: Sen. Lindsey Graham Dead At 71

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has passed away, his office confirmed early Sunday morning.

He was 71.

“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” a statement read.

“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” it added.

Statement from the Office of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). pic.twitter.com/CQ5yVvqTH1

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 12, 2026

NBC News shared further:

Graham was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in November. He was one of the most well-known members of the chamber and a key voice within the party on defense and international affairs.

Emergency personnel responded to a call for “cardiac arrest” at Graham’s Capitol Hill home on Saturday night, according to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News.

Photographs reviewed by NBC News show that paramedics carried a person on a stretcher from Graham’s home to an awaiting ambulance. Police cars and fire trucks were also on site.

Graham was fresh off a trip to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday. He had been scheduled to appear on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

His death comes as fellow Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell remains in the hospital after paramedics responded to a call at a known residence last month for an individual experiencing cardiac arrest.

A McConnell spokesperson has said the former GOP majority leader is continuing to recover, but his team has not provided further details about his condition.

“Peggy and I – and our children – are devastated. Lindsey Graham is irreplaceable. The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America – and a loyal and steadfast friend,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said.

“We grieve with Darline, his family and his devoted staff. May God hold him gently in the palm of his hand. We shall not see his likes again,” he continued.

My statement on the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham: pic.twitter.com/hbrjnMXIQd

— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) July 12, 2026

While in Ukraine, Graham visited the SkyFall defense tech facility to view the company’s advanced drones.

According to the Kyiv Post, Graham said it would be a “huge mistake” for the United States not to cooperate with Ukraine in the area of drone warfare.

“I believe that it would be a huge mistake for America not to cooperate with Ukraine in the field of drones. They are ready to help us because we were ready to support Ukraine in the hardest times. Today I visited a state-of-the-art enterprise that has huge capacities and produces technologies far more advanced than anyone on the planet. After all, necessity is the ‘mother’ of all inventions,” Graham said, according to the outlet.

US Senator Lindsey Graham visited Ukraine's SkyFall defense tech facility, inspecting its advanced drones.

Graham called it a “huge mistake” for the US not to partner with Ukraine, praising its tech as the most advanced on the planet.https://t.co/b10VjgSAfk

— KyivPost (@KyivPost) July 11, 2026

More from the Kyiv Post:

As part of his visit to Ukraine, US Senator Lindsey Graham visited one of the production locations of the Ukrainian technology-defense company SkyFall.

The senator familiarized himself with the development and manufacturing processes of the heavy bomber drones Vampire, also known as “Baba Yaga”, first-person view (FPV) drones of various modifications, and “Shahed” interceptors – P1-SUN.

The SkyFall team also presented new technological solutions that will soon appear on the battlefield. Separately, the senator was presented with the capabilities of the SkyFall Academy, which trains pilots, technicians, and instructors to work with unmanned systems.

The parties discussed the prospects of Ukrainian-American cooperation in the field of defense innovations and possible directions for a technological partnership.

This story is developing. Stay tuned for additional updates.

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