“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“He was always working, and was a true American Patriot,” Trump continued. “Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! …So sad!”
At the time of his death, Graham had just returned from a trip to Kyiv.
Zelensky noted that Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
In a Facebook post, he wrote: “We will always be especially grateful for the recognition of our people and words of admiration for the courage of Ukraine’s defenders.”
Graham was also one of the most prominent American political supporters of the Iranian opposition and the exiled Iranian opposition leader, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, meeting him in Washington in January and telling him: “I believe with all my heart that help is on the way.”
Following news of Graham’s death, Pahlavi described him as “a steadfast friend of the Iranian people and a proud defender of freedom.”
“At moments when moral clarity was required, Senator Graham stood on the right side,” Pahlavi wrote on X. “His support for Iran’s Lion and Sun Revolution earned him the title ‘Uncle Lindsey’ among Iranians. He will be remembered with profound gratitude and deep respect.”
Alex Winston contributed to this report.