Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Monday remembered the late Sen. Lindsey Graham as a tireless advocate for Ukraine and democracy abroad, saying there was "no more fitting tribute" than that the South Carolina Republican spent his final days pursuing a cause he passionately supported.
Appearing on Newsmax TV's "The Record With Greta Van Susteren," Thune reflected on Graham's long record of backing Ukraine and other U.S. allies, pointing to the senator's repeated visits to the war-torn country and his efforts to rally international support against Russian aggression.
"When you think about Lindsey and the number of times he's been to Ukraine and the passion he had to ensure that Ukraine was a free and independent nation, and the relationships he built, not only there but around the world in support of freedom and democracy, he was an incredibly impactful, consequential person in terms of all these issues," Thune said.
Graham died Saturday after a rupture in his aorta, according to a preliminary medical examiner finding shared by his office, one day after returning from a trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and promoted bipartisan legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Russia. He was 71.
Thune said Graham's final overseas mission reflected the senator's lifelong commitment to American leadership and democratic allies.
"I can't think of a more fitting tribute than to go out doing what he was passionate about," Thune said. "And that is trying to help countries secure their freedom and democracy."
Graham had been among Congress' strongest advocates for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
He frequently traveled overseas to meet with foreign leaders and worked across party lines on legislation aimed at increasing economic pressure on Moscow.
Throughout his Senate career, Graham was a leading voice on national security and foreign policy, often arguing that U.S. support for allies abroad was essential to protecting American interests.
He maintained close relationships with foreign leaders and regularly visited conflict zones to demonstrate U.S. backing for democratic governments.
Thune described Graham as an influential figure whose relationships around the world and unwavering commitment to freedom made him one of the Senate's most consequential voices on international affairs.
The Senate returned to Washington this week under a cloud of mourning as lawmakers continued paying tribute to Graham's decades of public service.
Colleagues from both parties remembered him as a forceful advocate for a strong U.S. military, robust alliances, and continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
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