Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) offered a candid and affectionate eulogy for his late colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday, describing the veteran lawmaker as “loud and obvious, and sometimes even obnoxious” in his pursuit of priorities that extended well beyond South Carolina’s borders.
Appearing on “Fox News Sunday” with Gillian Turner, Scott said Graham’s sudden death Saturday night from a “brief and sudden illness” at age 71 leaves a hole in the Senate that “cannot be filled.” He suggested it will take “many of us to step up to the plate and take on the responsibilities that he had from a global perspective.”
Scott recalled that Graham was never subtle about his convictions. “He was loud and obvious, and sometimes even obnoxious, because he understood that he had the power of a microphone to make a difference, not for himself but for others,” Scott said.
The two South Carolina Republicans often discussed issues affecting their home state, but Scott noted their conversations rarely stayed on domestic matters. “Lindsey, just being who he was, spent about 10 seconds on affordability and 90 minutes on foreign policy because you can’t change the guy,” Scott said. He added that voters in South Carolina kept re-electing Graham because they saw him as a statesman, not a politician.
Scott highlighted Graham’s fierce advocacy for Ukraine, saying he stood firmly against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression. “Lindsey Graham wanted to stand in the gap and say, ‘Hades no, not on my watch,’” Scott said, adding that Graham encouraged President Trump to stay deeply engaged in supporting Kyiv. Graham had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just a day before his death.
The outpouring of praise from Republican leaders was swift. President Trump called Graham “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known” in a post on Truth Social, calling him a “true American Patriot.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said his “heart is heavy,” noting Graham’s long service in the Air Force and Congress made him a “strong advocate for the United States and a strong ally to freedom-loving countries across the globe.”
Graham entered the Senate in 2003 after eight years in the House, succeeding Strom Thurmond. He made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency in 2016. For more on the succession process, see South Carolina’s law for replacing a senator. Additional tributes from world leaders are detailed in coverage of Graham’s death and the global reaction.
