The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has expressed his regret over the passing this Saturday of Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, a close ally of the president and one of the most influential figures in US foreign policy.
"Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the most extraordinary people and senators I have ever met, has passed away. He was always working and was a true American patriot. We will miss him greatly," Trump stated in a brief message on his Truth Social platform.
Graham died this Saturday night at the age of 71 due to a "brief and sudden illness," as detailed by his office in a statement released on social media.
The senator established himself as one of the main references for the United States in foreign policy matters. With a markedly hawkish profile, he was one of the Republican voices most inclined to military intervention in Iran, after having supported the invasion of Iraq in his day, and remained a staunch defender of Israel.
A few hours later, Trump announced on his social network that he had ordered flags across the country to be flown at half-mast until 6:00 PM next Saturday "in honor of the exceptional life and achievements of Senator Lindsey Graham, a dear friend of mine and a truly great man."
The former president emphasized that Graham drove significant progress for the United States and "for his beloved state of South Carolina." "God bless you, Lindsey!" he concluded.
Impact on Trump's Electoral Reform Initiative
Later, in statements to the US media, Trump admitted that Graham's disappearance represents a serious setback for his plans to push through an electoral reform that his detractors consider an attempt to limit access to voting.
"Where (Graham) was gaining traction was on the Save America Act," Trump stated, "and I think he was going to take a very strong stance to abolish the filibuster," referring to the parliamentary mechanism that was one of the main obstacles to the measure's approval.
Trump also acknowledged that he had differences with Graham, especially regarding the war in Ukraine. "I wanted to end the war quickly, but I think, frankly, he was more in favor of continuing with the issue," he estimated.
Following the news of Graham's death, another heavyweight senator from the Republican Party, Mitch McConnell, has released a photograph of himself to make it clear that he is still alive. McConnell, 84, has been hospitalized since June 14, and his absence could be decisive in maintaining the narrow Republican majority in the upper house.
His office has indicated that his health is improving favorably and that he has been able to hold phone conversations with other senators, including the Republican Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, who stated in mid-June that McConnell would return to activity within a week.