U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a close political ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday night "from a brief and sudden illness" at the age of 71, his office said in a statement early Sunday. Graham, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, was widely recognized as one of the most prominent and influential voices within the Republican Party on defense and foreign policy. 

Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014 and 2020. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said the news of Graham's death left him "shocked and heartbroken. “The US Capitol lowers its flag to half-staff following the unexpected death of Graham.