U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, died Saturday evening at age 71 following what his office described as a 'brief and sudden illness.' The District of Columbia Medical Examiner determined preliminary cause of death to be aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease — a life-threatening tear in the main artery from the heart, caused by a condition commonly known as hardening of the arteries. Emergency dispatch records reference a call for cardiac arrest at a residence belonging to the senator.

Graham had returned earlier Saturday from a visit to Ukraine, where on Friday he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. President Trump, speaking Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' said he had spoken with Graham after the senator's return and that Graham seemed fine aside from fatigue. Trump paid tribute to Graham on Truth Social, calling him 'one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known' and 'a true American Patriot.' Zelenskyy said he was 'deeply saddened' by the news and noted Graham's 10 wartime visits to Ukraine and his sustained advocacy for the country's defense.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog also issued statements mourning Graham's death. Netanyahu called Graham 'one of Israel's greatest friends' and described him as a 'beloved friend,' while Herzog said he was 'shocked and heartbroken.' Graham had been a prominent voice in U.S. foreign policy circles and a consistent supporter of both Ukraine and Israel.

Graham was born July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina. He earned undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina, served as a military lawyer, and later represented South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House before winning the Senate seat formerly held by Strom Thurmond in 2002. He was subsequently reelected three times. His death leaves a Senate vacancy in South Carolina, which will be filled according to state law governing senatorial succession.