Key Ally of Trump and Netanyahu, Senator Lindsey Graham, Passes Away at 71

Original article: Aliado clave de Trump y Netanyahu: muere Lindsey Graham, rostro duro del intervencionismo de EE.UU.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent face of interventionism in U.S. foreign policy and a vital ally of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, passed away this weekend at the age of 71, as confirmed by his office in a brief statement attributing his death to a «short and sudden illness,» but providing no further details on the exact causes.

Graham’s death comes at a crucial time, just days after his return from Ukraine, where he had secured an agreement to tighten sanctions against Russia.

Trump’s reaction was immediate, calling Graham «one of the best people and senators I’ve ever known.» On his social media platforms, Trump noted that he will be missed and emphasized Graham’s tireless work and patriotism, while Netanyahu bid farewell, referring to him as a «great friend of Israel,» highlighting that Graham understood the inseparable security of both nations.

His passing leaves a void in the Republican Party’s hardline faction, just as he was preparing to seek a fifth term in November and had secured a key position on the Judiciary Committee for 2027.

First elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving in the House of Representatives, Graham persistently advocated for a strong and robust military interventionism. From his vote in favor of military action in Iraq after September 11 to his support for a prolonged presence in Afghanistan, he was a staunch critic of Barack Obama’s foreign policy, whom he accused of being a «weak opponent of evil» due to the nuclear agreement with Iran, reported La Jornada.

His influence solidified as Trump’s advisor on military issues, particularly regarding confrontation with Iran and the handling of the war in Ukraine, where he had recently announced a sanctions package against Moscow.

The personal and political relationship between Graham and Trump was marked by extremes. In 2016, the senator called Trump «unfit for office» and used crude language to describe him after attacks on his friend John McCain. Trump, in response, revealed Graham’s personal phone number at a rally. However, Trump’s ascendance to the White House marked a radical shift, turning Graham into one of his top allies, a frequent advisor, and even a golf partner. Although he briefly broke from the president after the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, Graham returned to the fold and remained close during Trump’s second term.

As chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham was a key player in passing tax legislation. Additionally, in 2013, he played a crucial role in Senate efforts to design a comprehensive immigration reform. As a member of a bipartisan group, he helped draft an extensive bill aimed at transforming nearly all aspects of U.S. immigration law. That initiative garnered 68 favorable votes in the Senate but never reached the House of Representatives, thus failing to become law.

The succession for the South Carolina seat now falls to Governor Henry McMaster, who will need to appoint a temporary replacement. State law requires a special primary to select a definitive candidate, who will assume a full six-year term in January.