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World
Lindsey Graham, U.S. Republican Senator and Trump Ally, Dies July 11, 2026
Herz — World Desk · · 30s summary · 2 min read
The essentials
Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina and influential adviser to Donald Trump, died on July 11, 2026, at age 71. The day before his death, he had traveled to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In 2026, Graham had pressed Trump for military intervention against Iran amid escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, NATO allies, and Taiwan paid tribute to the senator. On July 14, The New York Times was running live coverage of a crisis involving Iran, the Trump administration, and the Strait of Hormuz—three days after Graham's death.
- Graham, Republican senator since 2003, died July 11, 2026, at age 71
- The day before his death, he met with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv
- In 2026, he pressed Trump for military intervention against Iran
- Netanyahu, NATO allies, and Taiwan paid tribute to the senator
- On July 14, the NYT covered an Iran-Trump crisis over the Strait of Hormuz
What We Know
Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator from South Carolina and influential adviser to Donald Trump, died on July 11, 2026, at age 71.
On July 10, 2026, the day before his death, Graham traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Tributes were paid by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, NATO allies, and Taiwan.
Context
Serving in the U.S. Senate since 2003, Graham had supported the invasion of Iraq and embodied for over two decades the interventionist wing of the Republican Party in foreign policy.
In 2026, he had pressured Donald Trump to order military intervention against Iran. This stance reflected growing tensions around the Strait of Hormuz—a maritime passage in the Persian Gulf connecting the Gulf of Oman, bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by the United Arab Emirates and Oman.
On July 14, 2026, The New York Times was running a live blog covering the crisis involving Iran, the Trump administration, and the Strait of Hormuz, signaling active escalation in the region three days after Graham's death.
Timeline
- 2003Lindsey Graham enters the U.S. Senate representing South Carolina. He supports the invasion of Iraq, establishing a consistent interventionist posture.
- 2026 (before July 10)Graham pressures Donald Trump in favor of military intervention against Iran amid tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.
- July 10, 2026Graham travels to Kyiv and meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- July 11, 2026Lindsey Graham dies at age 71. Tributes are paid by Benjamin Netanyahu, NATO allies, and Taiwan.
- July 14, 2026, 9:42 a.m. UTCThe New York Times opens a live blog on the Iran-Trump-Strait of Hormuz crisis.
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