White House flags lowered following Senator Lindsey Graham’s death

Digital Content Producer

WASHINGTON —

Flags at the White House were lowered to half-staff following the death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

President Donald Trump released a statement Sunday afternoon, saying in part, “In honor of the remarkable life and achievements of Senator Lindsey Graham, a dear friend of mine, and a truly great man, who achieved so much for our Country, and his beloved Home State of South Carolina, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Saturday evening at 6 p.m.”

Graham, a longtime Republican from South Carolina and ally of President Donald Trump, died Saturday “from a brief and sudden illness,” a spokesperson for his office said.

He was 71.

First elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002, Graham came to embody the evolution of the Republican Party as a critic to Trump who turned fiercely loyal, eventually growing to be one of the president’s closest advisers on Capitol Hill.

Graham made his first Senate appearance in 2002 and was campaigning for a fifth term this year.

The senator, a former Air Force lawyer, became a leading GOP voice on foreign policy and national security.

Biography from Sen. Graham’s website:

“Graham was elected to the United States Senate in 2002 and was re-elected in 2008, 2014, and 2020. He became the first person in South Carolina history to garner over one million votes in the 2008 general election.

“Graham currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. Graham also serves as a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

“Prior to serving in the Senate, Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 as the first Republican from the Third Congressional District of South Carolina since 1877.

“Before being elected to Congress, Graham compiled a distinguished record in the United States Air Force as he logged six-and-a-half years of service on active duty as an Air Force lawyer. From 1984-1988, he was assigned overseas and served at Rhein-Main Air Force Base in Germany. Upon leaving active duty Air Force in 1989, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard where he served until 1995. During the first Gulf War in the early 90’s, Graham was called to active duty and served state-side at McEntire Air National Guard Base as Staff Judge Advocate where he prepared members for deployment to the Gulf region.

“In 1995, Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Reserves. During American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Graham put his experience in military law to use pulling numerous short-term Reserve duties in both countries over congressional breaks and holidays.

“Graham retired from the Air Force Reserves in June 2015 having served his country in uniform for 33 years. He retired at the rank of Colonel.

“A native South Carolinian, Graham grew up in a blue collar family in the small town of Central where his parents ran a restaurant and pool hall. The first member of his family to go to college, Graham earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. He lives in Seneca and is a member of Corinth Baptist Church.”