南卡罗来纳州资深联邦参议员林赛・格雷厄姆骤然离世，美国前总统特朗普、多国领导人，以及国会两党同僚纷纷发声哀悼。
格雷厄姆办公室发布声明称，他于周六晚间突发急病离世，终年 71 岁。
周日一早，特朗普在社交平台发文：“林赛・格雷厄姆参议员，是我认识过最优秀的人、最出色的参议员，如今永远离开了我们!他一生奔走履职，是纯粹的美国爱国者。所有人都会深深怀念他!”
白宫主楼及北草坪旗杆的美国国旗均降半旗，以此悼念这位特朗普的忠实盟友。特朗普随后在个人社交平台宣布，下令全美所有公共建筑国旗降半旗，直至 7 月 18 日周六傍晚 6 时。
前总统拜登周日发表声明：“吉尔与我听闻林赛骤然离世的消息，万分震惊。”
“我与林赛在国会共事十余年，多年来携手处理多项政务，我们一同以参议院外交委员会成员身份出访多国。我们政见时常相左，有时争论得面红耳赤，” 拜登写道，“但我们二人都由衷认同公职服务的重大意义。和我一样，他深爱参议院这一机构，即便它存在诸多缺陷与复杂纠葛。”
拜登在声明结尾表示：“我们夫妇向他的家人、幕僚、南卡选民，以及所有爱戴他的人送上祈祷。”
副总统 J.D. 万斯 2023 至 2025 年间曾与格雷厄姆同在参议院任职。他评价格雷厄姆是 “美国政坛独一无二的人物”，也坦言二人常有分歧。
万斯说：“林赛出身平凡，最终成为全球最强国家里手握重权的议员，他的人生是典型的美国追梦故事。”
万斯回忆，自己曾与格雷厄姆激烈争辩，却发自内心地欣赏他：“他会拼尽全力捍卫自己信奉的理念，在你需要支持的关键时刻，也会义无反顾站出来挺你。”
离世前不久，格雷厄姆刚结束第十次乌克兰之行，并于周五会见乌克兰总统泽连斯基。周五当天，他还联合两党参议员与白宫达成协议，敲定了自己长期推动的对俄制裁法案。
泽连斯基周日在社交平台发文，称听闻噩耗悲痛万分，称赞格雷厄姆是 “自由与普世安全价值真正的捍卫者”。
“俄罗斯全面入侵乌克兰以来，他十次到访乌克兰，在我们最艰难的时刻陪伴乌克兰人民，” 泽连斯基表示，“我们始终保持密切沟通，就在上周还两度会面，往后再也没有机会与他畅谈，我十分痛心。他生前一直在推进多项关键方案，希望能推动和平早日到来。”
泽连斯基评价：“美国乃至全世界，都失去了一位意志坚定的领袖。”
南卡罗来纳州州长亨利・麦克马斯特表示，自己与家人为格雷厄姆的离世悲痛不已。
他在社交平台 X 上写道：“他是南卡、是美国最骁勇的斗士，也是忠诚可靠的挚友…… 世间再无第二个林赛・格雷厄姆。”
以色列总理本雅明・内塔尼亚胡称格雷厄姆是 “挚友”，感慨 “美国失去了一位伟大爱国者”。格雷厄姆生前坚定支持特朗普政府在加沙哈马斯冲突中援以以色列，同时力挺特朗普对伊朗采取强硬举措。
南卡罗来纳州共和党参议员蒂姆・斯科特做客美国广播公司《本周》节目时谈及格雷厄姆，难掩悲伤，对主持人玛莎・拉德茨坦言：“林赛・格雷厄姆无人能替代。”
“我永远记得，刚进入参议院时，他全力支持我的连任竞选，陪我奔走各地造势，” 斯科特与格雷厄姆共事 13 年，“他早已是我家人的好友，我的婚礼只邀请了三四位参议员，林赛便是其中之一。政坛、人生中，能交到这样真心相待的朋友，实在难得。”
南卡资深民主党联邦众议员吉姆・克莱伯恩也向格雷厄姆家属致哀，他在社交平台写道：“即便我们政见分歧巨大，我和林赛始终互相尊重，维持着真挚的交情。”
“他毕生投身公职、心系选民，这份坚守将永远镌刻在他的人生遗产中。” 克莱伯恩说。
明尼苏达州民主党参议员艾米・克洛布查回忆，格雷厄姆热爱工作、热爱国家、珍视家人。
“林赛对生活、对参议院工作永远满怀热忱，和他一同起草法案，或是与他辩论，都会让人充满干劲。他总能为这份工作带来欢声笑语。” 克洛布查评价道。
伊利诺伊州民主党参议员迪克・德宾透露，上周在土耳其举办的北约峰会上，他还与格雷厄姆相见。
“我们在大使官邸参加私人晚宴时，他还在挨个游说各位参议员，商讨结束乌克兰战争的方案，这就是一贯的林赛，” 德宾在声明中写道，“美国每一项重大政策议题，都少不了他的身影;参议院各类跨党派协商小组里，他永远是核心人物。前一日，他还是立场鲜明的共和党中坚;转天，他又能成为两党合作的关键盟友。”
弗吉尼亚州民主党参议员马克・沃纳在社交平台发文，称听闻噩耗心碎不已。
“多年来，我和林赛在诸多议题上意见相悖，但我从未怀疑他对国家的赤诚，以及服务民众的初心。他坚定捍卫自己信奉的事业，尤其重视国家安全与全体美军将士。” 沃纳表示。
众议院议长、路易斯安那州共和党议员迈克・约翰逊发表声明：“林赛始终坚信、并毕生奔走宣扬美国的国力与独特价值。”
“他一生为国效力，服役于美国空军，任职南卡州众议院、联邦众议院，直至联邦参议院。” 约翰逊说道。
前副总统卡玛拉・哈里斯发布悼文：“听闻前同僚格雷厄姆参议员离世，我万分难过。他风趣、精力充沛、待人热忱，深切牵挂参议院与南卡罗来纳州民众。我与道格向他的亲友、所有爱戴他的人致以慰问与祈祷。”
Sen. Lindsey Graham's death elicits bipartisan outpouring of condolences
The suddendeathof Sen. Lindsey Graham prompted condolences from President Donald Trump, world leaders, and a bipartisan list of the influential veteran South Carolina lawmaker's congressional colleagues.
Graham died from a "brief and sudden illness" on Saturday night at 71 years old, according to astatementreleased by hisoffice.
"Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!" Trump said on social media on Sunday morning. "He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!"
The flags above the White House, as well as on the White House North Lawn flagpole, were lowered to half-staff in honor of Graham, who was a staunch ally of President Trump. He later announced on his social media platform that he is ordering "all American flags" throughout the country to be lowered to half-staff until Saturday, July 18 at 6 p.m.
"Jill and I are shocked by the sudden passing of Lindsey Graham," former President Joe Biden said in astatementSunday.
"Lindsey and I served together in Congress for over a decade, and worked closely on many issues throughout the years. We traveled the world together as members of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. We disagreed often, and sometimes loudly," Biden wrote. "Lindsey and I did agree on the profound importance of public service. Like me, he loved the Senate as an institution, even with all its flaws and complexities."
"To his family, his staff, his constituents in South Carolina, and everyone who loved him: Jill and I are keeping you in our prayers," Biden's statement concluded.
Vice President JD Vance, who served in the Senate with Graham from 2023 to 2025, described Graham as a "one-of-a-kind figure in our politics," while also acknowledging their "disagreements."
"Lindsey Graham came from humble beginnings and became one of the most powerful lawmakers in the most powerful nation on Earth. His story was a fundamentally American one," Vance said.
Vance recalled getting into heated disagreements with Graham, but said, "I couldn't help but like him."
"He fought like hell for the things he believed in, and he was just as willing to go to bat for you when it counted,” Vance said.
Graham's death came after he returned home from his 10th visit to Ukraine, where he met on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham and a bipartisan group of senators announced on Friday a deal with the White House on aRussian sanctions billthat Graham had long championed.
In astatementon social media Sunday, Zelenskyy said he was "deeply saddened" by the news of Graham's death and praised the senator as "a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer."
"He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia's full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed," Zelenskyy said. "We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations. We met twice in just the past week."
Zelenskyy said Graham had been working on "important initiatives that could help bring peace closer."
"America and the world have lost a determined leader," Zelenskyy said.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said he and his family were "devastated" by Graham's passing.
"The fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America – and a loyal and steadfast friend. ... We shall not see his likes again," McMastersaid in apost on X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Graham a "beloved friend" and said "America has lost a great patriot" with his passing.
Graham was a strong advocate of the Trump administration's support of Israel during its war against Hamas in Gaza and also supported President Trump on the war in Iran.
South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott became emotional when reminiscing about Grahamon ABC's "This Week,"telling co-anchor Martha Raddatz, "Lindsey Graham was irreplaceable."
"I will always remember Lindsey Graham as a guy who was, as soon as I was appointed to the Senate, he embraced my candidacy for re-election. He was there on the campaign trail with me," said Scott, who served with Graham for 13 years in the Senate. "To my family, he became a friend. He was one of only three or four senators I invited to my wedding because Lindsey Graham had become a part of the family. And it is a rare thing in politics, a rare thing in life, to find people who are actually your friend."
Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Democratic representative from South Carolina, also expressed condolences to Graham's family, writing in asocial media postthat he and Graham "maintained a relationship grounded in mutual respect, even when our political differences were significant."
"His commitment to public service and the people he represented will remain an enduring part of his legacy," Clyburn said.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.,recalled Grahamas "a man who loved his work, his country, and his family. "
"Lindsey had a zest for life and the Senate that made you want to get to work on a bill with him or at least debate him. He brought joy to his job," Klobuchar said.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in a statement that he was just with Graham at last week's NATO summit in Turkey.
"At a private dinner at the Ambassador’s residence, he was working every senator on a strategy to end the war in Ukraine. Typical Lindsey," Durbin said. "Lindsey was part of every important policy issue and an indispensable player in every Senate 'gang.' He was a fierce Republican partisan one day and a key bipartisan ally the next."
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said in asocial media statementthat he was "heartbroken" to hear of Graham's death.
"Lindsey and I disagreed on plenty over the years, but I never doubted his love for this country or his commitment to serving it. He was a fierce advocate for the causes he believed in, especially our nation’s security and the men and women of our armed forces," Warner said in a statement
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in astatementthat Graham "believed and advocated tirelessly for American strength and exceptionalism."
"He served his country throughout his life – from the U.S. Air Force, to the S.C. House, to the U.S. House, to the U.S. Senate," Johnson said.
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of my former colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham," former Vice President Kamala Harrissaid in a statement. "He was full of wit, energy, and charm, and he cared deeply about the Senate and the people of South Carolina. Doug and I are sending our thoughts and our prayers to his friends and loved ones.”
