Sen. Lindsey Graham's sudden death has left Washington in shock, but his legacy as a foreign policy advocate may be his most lasting impact on the nation.
Just a decade ago, Graham was a vocal critic of Donald Trump, even calling him a "jackass" and warning Republicans that nominating him would be a disaster. However, as Trump rose to power, Graham emerged as one of the few lawmakers with regular access to the president on questions of national security.
Despite their differences, Graham became one of the Republican Party's most influential voices on Iran, Ukraine, Israel, and NATO. He had built his Senate career around foreign policy, often spending weekends overseas meeting presidents, visiting war zones, and trying to broker agreements between allies and the White House.
Graham's influence extended far beyond his role as a senator. His office became an unofficial waypoint for foreign leaders trying to understand or influence the Trump administration, and he was one of the final people to speak with the president after he returned from Ukraine just hours before his death.
As Trump reshaped Republican foreign policy around an "America First" agenda, Graham cultivated one of the closest working relationships with the president, giving him unusual influence as the administration navigated conflicts from Ukraine and Iran to Israel and NATO.
"He would call me all the time," Trump said of Graham in a recent interview. "I'd say, 'Stop calling me, Lindsey.' It was amazing. He just never stopped. He was a worker – a total workaholic politician."
Colleagues described Graham as living and breathing the work of the Senate, particularly serving as an informal envoy between the U.S. and allies around the world. He had just completed his 10th trip to Ukraine and maintained tight relationships with foreign leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Graham's approach to foreign policy was shaped by his extensive travel and experience working with world leaders. "He wasn't interested in writing op-ed pieces or making speeches, he wanted firsthand contact with leaders of the world," said a friend and fellow foreign policy expert.
Despite publicly disagreeing with Trump on issues such as Iran negotiations and Russia sanctions, Graham remained one of the president's closest advisors. His influence extended to Congress, where he pushed for a tougher line against Russia in the war on Ukraine and advocated for a muscular U.S. role abroad.
Graham's legacy as a trusted interlocutor between the White House, Congress, and foreign leaders may be his most lasting impact on the nation. His support for Israel was equally central to his worldview, and he spent years working to strengthen ties between Israel and Arab states.
As the nation mourns Graham's passing, it's unclear who will be able to usher his signature Russia sanctions bill through the Senate and onto the president's desk with the same access to both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. For now, the president will navigate wars in Ukraine and the Middle East without the friend who was never shy about telling him to hit harder.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar described Graham as having a "kid-like exuberance about his job and the responsibilities he was given." Even in his sixties, Graham would get off a plane in a foreign land with a twinkle in his eye, eager to tackle the next challenge.
Lindsey Graham was a senator's senator, with a deep passion for the office and a commitment to serving the nation. His legacy will live on in the many lives he touched and the foreign policy landscape he helped shape.
