American Senator Lindsey Graham, who died of a heart attack on July 11, supported active U.S. involvement in global affairs, aid to allies, including Ukraine and Israel, as well as economic and military pressure on Washington's adversaries.
UNN has compiled everything worth knowing about the late politician who supported Ukraine in its confrontation with the aggressor state russia.
Lindsey Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in Central, South Carolina, USA. He was educated at the University of South Carolina, earning a bachelor's degree in psychology and a Juris Doctor in 1988.
He served in the military from 1982 to 1988 and participated in military conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Before beginning his political career, he served as a member of the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1982 to 1988, working as a lawyer and chief prosecutor in Europe.
After his service in Europe, he returned to South Carolina, left active military duty in 1989 and began a private law practice. Graham served as an assistant district attorney for Oconee County from 1988 to 1992 and as city attorney for Central from 1990 to 1994.
From 1993 to 1995, he was a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district.
From 1995 to 2003, he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd congressional district.
Senior U.S. Senator from South Carolina from 2003 to 2026.
During his lifetime, Lindsey Graham received a number of awards, including the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Orders of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the I, II, and III degrees.
What views did Senator Lindsey Graham hold
The American Republican senator was a supporter of conservative domestic policy and an active role for the United States in the world. He consistently supported Ukraine and Israel, advocated for strengthening sanctions against russia and Iran, defended Americans' right to bear arms, and opposed abortion. At the same time, on some issues, particularly immigration, the politician was willing to compromise with Democrats.
Foreign policy
Graham was considered one of the leading foreign policy "hawks" in the U.S. Senate. He advocated for a strong American military, increased defense spending, and maintaining the global leadership of the United States.
The senator supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq, criticized the hasty withdrawal of American troops from conflict zones, and opposed isolationism. In his view, Washington should actively support allies and deter states that pose a threat to the U.S.
Position on Israel and Iran
Graham remained a staunch supporter of Israel and backed its right to use force against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other groups linked to Iran.
He also advocated for providing Israel with military aid and missile defense systems. Regarding Iran, the senator took a hardline stance: he supported sanctions, opposed the nuclear deal with Tehran, and believed that the U.S. and Israel should maintain the option of a military response in the event of a threat of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
From criticizing Trump to a political alliance
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Graham sharply criticized Donald Trump, accusing him of xenophobic rhetoric and being unfit for the presidency.
After Trump's victory, he gradually became one of his closest allies in the Senate. Graham supported the appointment of conservative judges, tax policy, and most of the president's domestic policy agenda.
At the same time, he did not always agree with Trump. In particular, Graham criticized the pardons of participants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and differed with the president on issues concerning russia, Ukraine, Syria, and the U.S. military presence abroad.
Abortion and same-sex marriage
Graham opposed abortion. In 2022, he proposed a federal ban on abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy. The bill included exceptions for cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the woman's life or physical health.
The senator also supported the U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned the federal constitutional guarantee of the right to abortion.
On the issue of same-sex marriage, Graham held socially conservative views. He considered marriage to be a union between a man and a woman and voted against the federal law that codified the recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages. At the same time, the senator stated that he would respect the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage in the U.S.
Right to bear arms
Graham was a supporter of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the right of citizens to own firearms. He opposed a ban on semi-automatic weapons, limits on magazine capacity, and a significant expansion of federal background checks for buyers.
At the same time, in 2022, the senator supported a bipartisan community safety bill. It provided for additional checks on young gun buyers, combating illegal trafficking, and funding mental health care and school security measures.
Immigration policy
Graham's views on immigration changed throughout his political career. In 2013, he was part of a group of senators who prepared a comprehensive immigration reform. It combined strengthening border security with the possibility of legalizing some undocumented migrants.
Graham also supported granting legal status to people who were brought to the U.S. as children.
Later, he took a tougher stance, supporting stronger borders, the work of immigration services, and combating cities that limited local police cooperation with federal authorities. Despite this, the senator continued to advocate for compromise solutions that combined protecting certain categories of migrants with funding border security.
Economy and healthcare
In economic policy, Graham supported tax cuts, reducing government regulation, business development, and increasing the extraction of traditional energy sources.
He voted for Trump's tax reform and advocated for the repeal of the healthcare reform known as Obamacare. The senator proposed giving states more authority in allocating funds for medical programs.
Support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia
Graham was one of the most consistent supporters of Ukraine among Republicans. He supported arms supplies, strengthening Ukraine's air defense, and imposing tougher sanctions against Russia.
Together with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, Graham drafted a bill on primary and secondary sanctions against Moscow. The document, in particular, provided for the imposition of high tariffs on goods from countries that continued to buy Russian oil, gas, and uranium.
The senator stated that the Russian invasion posed a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the entire international security system. At the same time, he believed that ending the war required not only military and economic pressure on Russia but also China's influence on Moscow.
Reminder
American Senator Lindsey Graham died of sudden cardiac arrest at his home. Shortly before his death, he returned from Kyiv, where he met with President Zelenskyy.
One of the most outstanding people and senators - Trump reacted to Graham's death12.07.26, 10:39