US Senator Lindsey Graham passes away at 71 from a brief and sudden illness

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham passed away on Saturday (local time) from a brief and sudden illness, his office announced on Sunday.

In a post on X, Graham's office announced his demise and wrote, “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”

Graham, 71, was a prominent Republican senator from South Carolina, Reuters reported, adding that earlier in his career, he was a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump before becoming one of his most loyal allies on Capitol Hill.

He was last seen in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, before returning to Washington on Friday, where he was scheduled to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning.

Trump condoles Graham's death

The US President on Sunday (local time) offered his condolences for the death of Graham. In a Truth Social post, he wrote, "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!!!"

Here's what we know about Lindsey Graham

According to his website, the Republican senator was elected to the US Senate in 2002. He was first elected to the US House of Representatives in 1994 for South Carolina's third congressional district. He later served in the upper house.

A defence hawk, his website said he had "consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests."

Graham has also been a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He was not married and lived in Seneca, South Carolina.

According to Bloomberg, one of Graham's final legislative initiatives involved joining a bipartisan group of senators that said last week it had reached an agreement with the Trump administration on imposing fresh sanctions against Russia. The proposed measures are aimed at increasing economic pressure on the Kremlin to end its war in Ukraine.