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Two-Decade Senate Career Marked by Defense and Foreign Policy Focus
Lindsey Graham, the veteran Republican senator from South Carolina who served from 2003 until his death in 2026, was one of American politics’ most recognized voices on national security and foreign affairs. He was 71.
Early Life and Military Service
Born July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina, Graham grew up in a working-class family and became the first in his family to attend college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a law degree from the University of South Carolina.
Before entering politics, Graham served in the US Air Force JAG Corps, joining active duty in 1982 as a military lawyer and becoming the Air Force’s chief prosecutor in Europe. He continued reserve service alongside his political career, receiving the Bronze Star Medal in 2014 for his role as a senior legal adviser in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Political Career
Graham served in the South Carolina House (1993-1995) and US House (1995-2003) before winning his Senate seat in 2002. He was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020, building a reputation as a senior Republican voice on defense and foreign policy.
Foreign Policy and Israel Support
Graham was a foreign policy hawk who backed strong US military engagement overseas, tough policies toward Iran, and close US-Israel relations. During the 2023 Israel-Gaza war, he opposed ceasefire calls and rejected conditions on US military assistance to Israel. His positions drew criticism from human rights advocates who argued he favored military responses over diplomacy.
Relationship with Trump and Controversies
In 2015, Graham launched a presidential campaign but withdrew before the primaries. Initially a vocal critic of Donald Trump, he later became one of Trump’s closest allies after 2017. Critics accused him of political expediency.
Democrats also criticized Graham over Supreme Court nominations, accusing him of changing his position on election-year appointments to support Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation in 2020
