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Lindsey Graham, longtime senator from South Carolina and Staunch Trump Ally, dies at 71
Washington Post ^ | 07/12/2026 | Dan Diamond

Posted on 07/12/2026 6:25:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, died suddenly on Saturday night, his office said.

Graham, a leading GOP foreign policy voice, was running for reelection this year. He had been a staunch ally of President Donald Trump on most matters but had broken with the president on some issues.

Graham’s death narrows Republicans’ majority in the Senate, where they had held a 53-47 edge. Under South Carolina law, the state’s Republican governor can make an immediate appointment to fill Graham’s seat for the remainder of his term, which expires in January.

The governor, Henry McMaster, said in a statement that Graham was “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend.”

In a social media post, Trump praised Graham as a “true American Patriot” and said details on funeral arrangements would follow.

A U.S. senator since 2002, Graham has been a prominent figure in U.S. politics for decades, particularly on foreign policy matters, and he traveled frequently to conflict zones, including Iraq and Ukraine. He competed unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential election.

Graham, whose 71st birthday was Thursday, just recently returned from Ukraine after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: death; lindsaygraham; senate
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First, Mitch McConnell and now Lindsay Graham….
1 posted on 07/12/2026 6:25:39 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Maybe we can now find out how Graham had so much LEVERAGE over Trump, as Trump campaigned as much against Graham in his 3 elections as much has he campaigned against the Democrats (remember “no forever wars”, end Ukraine in 24 hours, etc.), and then IMMEDIATELY tossed it all overboard and then effectively made Graham is Secretary of State, once he won in 2024.

Graham was holding something over him...but what?


2 posted on 07/12/2026 6:27:41 AM PDT by BobL (Trusting one's doctor is the #1 health mistake one can make.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I presume the Governor of South Carolina will do as he’s told, by whoever does the telling - which leads to the question, where is Nimrata Haley these days, and what is she doing?


3 posted on 07/12/2026 6:28:42 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et des phrases)
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To: Jim Noble

Please not her.


4 posted on 07/12/2026 6:29:55 AM PDT by CaptainK ("No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up” )
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To: SeekAndFind

“Lindsey Graham, longtime senator from South Carolina and Staunch Trump Ally, dies at 71”. It’s been said only the good die young.


5 posted on 07/12/2026 6:31:03 AM PDT by kawhill (Dywedwch Wrthbym because + Add translation Welsh-English dictionary 'Tell Us')
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To: SeekAndFind

Both McConnell and Graham are longstanding arguments for term limitation.


6 posted on 07/12/2026 6:34:12 AM PDT by Berosus (I wish I had as much faith in God as liberals have in government.)
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To: SeekAndFind; All
I wouldn't call Graham a ‘staunch’ Trump ally! More like a rainy day, wishy washy ally
7 posted on 07/12/2026 6:35:52 AM PDT by SMARTY (In politics, stupidity is not a handicap. Napoleon Bonaparte I)
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To: SeekAndFind

Poisoned and murdered.


8 posted on 07/12/2026 6:36:38 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Freedom is never free. It must be won rewon and jealously guarded.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I wish he had lost his primary race last month instead, but I’m happy he’s no longer a U.S. Senator. The dude was such a front man for foreign interests in the U.S. government that he should have been forced to register as a foreign agent under Federal law.


9 posted on 07/12/2026 6:38:43 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (If I leave here, it’s because I’m tired of arguing with geriatric parrots wearing MAGA hats.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I wouldn’t call him a “staunch Trump ally”. He was a staunch neocon. He definitely leaned on Trump and forced him to give way on some issues. His “support” for Trump was a thin veneer.


10 posted on 07/12/2026 6:39:03 AM PDT by FLT-bird
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To: BobL

I see, by your understanding of things, the two men couldn’t possibly have come to an understanding with each other, just by being honest yet respectful in sharing their views with each other. I think your sinister view is just a conspiratorial mind.

I heard from a mutual friend of both men, speaking to a reporter this morning, that Graham and Trump played golf with each other nearly once a week.


11 posted on 07/12/2026 6:39:18 AM PDT by Wuli (")
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To: SeekAndFind

Wow, wasn’t expecting this news this am. 71 ain’t very old. He looked healthy-ish- but who knows


12 posted on 07/12/2026 6:40:13 AM PDT by Bob434 (Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana)
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To: Berosus

Was Graham involved with Chinese interests?


13 posted on 07/12/2026 6:41:04 AM PDT by CTyank
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To: Berosus

We’ve always had term limits…it’s called informing yourself and voting accordingly. This isnt a procedural issue, rather it’s an electorate issue and despite all of the laws you can concoct nothing will change until the voters engage.


14 posted on 07/12/2026 6:41:29 AM PDT by 556x45
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To: SeekAndFind

Well. “Staunch Trump Ally” is stretching it.

Graham has been better in the last year with respect to Trump, but it is hard to view his whole body of work as a Senator while Trump has been President and view that as “staunch support”.

I believe any support he gave was wholly part of a political give and take dynamic, not any kind of ideological support. I viewed Graham’s support as completely political expediency, and mostly only in the last year or so.

This is, of course, my opinion.


15 posted on 07/12/2026 6:45:05 AM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: rlmorel

The Senate has lost Lindsay Graham and will pretty much lose Mitch McConnell.

Divine Providence seems to be hinting at something…


16 posted on 07/12/2026 6:45:28 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: FLT-bird

I still think he was one of the people that pushed Trump into this Iran war. Netanyahu is blubbering like a baby all over TV this morning.


17 posted on 07/12/2026 6:45:43 AM PDT by vivenne (7Come to think of it. Fact.)
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To: jmaroneps37

“Died suddenly” makes ya wonder if it’s a heart attack gun, or something else. Also makes me wonder how “Legion” was able to pull it off.

Doesn’t make me feel all that secure.


18 posted on 07/12/2026 6:46:42 AM PDT by butterdezillion
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To: BobL

I don’t subscribe to the theory Graham was holding something over Trump’s head other than support of or rejection of ideas, issues, and legislation in the Senate.


19 posted on 07/12/2026 6:47:03 AM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: Wuli

Well, they did play golf and were friends but Lindsey was still a snake.


20 posted on 07/12/2026 6:48:39 AM PDT by vivenne (7Come to think of it. Fact.)
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