Graham’s death renews scrutiny of his interventionist record
The South Carolina Republican died at 71 after a brief illness, leaving a record defined by support for Israel, military force and Donald Trump.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Senator Lindsey Graham’s death has put new attention on the South Carolina Republican’s long record of support for US military action abroad and close alignment with Israel. Graham died late Saturday at 71 after a “brief and sudden illness”, his office said.
Al Jazeera reported that Graham’s decades in public life were marked by backing for the 2003 Iraq invasion, opposition to Russia and China, strong support for Israel and advocacy for military action against Iran. Michael Hanna, US programme director at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that Graham’s reputation rested heavily on interventionist foreign policy and his later alliance with President Donald Trump.
A hawkish foreign policy record
Hanna said Graham had spent years pressing for military responses to US foreign policy problems. He described Graham as a major supporter of the Iraq War and said the senator had recently pushed Trump to use force against Iran.
Al Jazeera cited Graham’s 2024 Fox News appearance after Hurricane Helene as an example of how quickly he turned from domestic issues to Israel. During the interview, Graham criticised the Biden administration’s hurricane response before warning that Israel needed ammunition and US help.
Graham’s appetite for military action drew criticism from some Republicans as well as Democrats. Earlier this year, Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, told reporters that Graham “hasn’t seen a fist fight he hasn’t wanted to turn into a bombing raid” after Graham urged US participation with Israel in strikes on Lebanon, according to Al Jazeera.
Israel support drew praise and anger
Al Jazeera reported that Graham frequently called for more US military assistance to Israel. After an Israeli assault on Gaza in 2021 that killed hundreds of Palestinians, Graham travelled to Israel, posed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu beside a sign reading “More for Israel” and later secured an additional $1bn in US military aid, according to the report.
Netanyahu praised Graham after his death, telling Fox News that the senator had pushed for more aid even when Netanyahu discussed phasing out US military assistance. Netanyahu said Graham believed Israel’s security was tied to US security.
Israeli officials, including far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, also praised Graham, according to Al Jazeera. Palestinian advocates condemned him. Hatem Abudayyeh, national chair of the US Palestinian Community Network, told Al Jazeera that Graham had spent his career “cheerleading war, occupation and genocide”.
Graham’s comments about Palestinians drew particular criticism. In 2024, he told NBC News that the US use of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II had been acceptable to end an existential war, adding that Israel should do whatever it had to do to survive as a Jewish state. In October 2023, at the start of the Gaza war, Graham said he was with Israel and urged it to “level the place”, according to Al Jazeera.
From Trump critic to ally
Graham’s relationship with Trump changed sharply after the 2016 Republican primary. During that campaign, Graham called Trump a “race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot” and said he was unfit for office, according to Al Jazeera.
After Trump won the nomination and then the presidency, Graham became one of his most loyal Senate allies. Hanna told Al Jazeera that Graham had Trump’s ear on Iran, though he said many figures pushed for war and policy outcomes could not be credited to Graham alone.
After Graham’s death, Trump urged South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to appoint Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to fill the seat until the end of the term early next year. Al Jazeera reported that McMaster did so.
The reaction to Graham’s death also reflected a wider split over US foreign policy. Hanna told Al Jazeera that younger Republicans and Democrats are less supportive of military intervention and Israel than older generations, creating friction inside both parties.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.