US Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump’s close ally, dies

US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham who was one of the closest allies of President Donald Trump has died following a brief and sudden illness at age 71.

His office has released a statement saying he died on Saturday evening. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”

Elected to the US Senate in 2002, the South Carolina politician was one of Washington’s most influential voices on defence and foreign policy of President Trump.

Graham also served as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

He had just returned from Kyiv, where he met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.

Graham was a strong proponent of US support for Ukraine. “Putin will not stop in Ukraine,” he told the BBC in 2023.

“To be weak in Ukraine means that you lose in Taiwan,” he said.