Shortly after news broke of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham’s death, the left-wing newspaper Haaretz published an extensive opinion piece examining his political legacy. Rather than a eulogy or biographical overview, the column was devoted largely to harsh criticism of Graham’s public career.
The piece described Graham as someone who “began as a promise of American conservatism, but sold out his principles,” reviewing his transformation from a sharp critic of Donald Trump to one of his most prominent supporters. Throughout the article, harsh phrases appeared including “liquidation sale of all principles,” “lacking a moral backbone,” and “floor rag.”
The column traced Graham’s political career, his relationship with the late Senator John McCain, his 2016 presidential run, and the shift in his positions after Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party.
As reported, the senior Republican senator from South Carolina died after a sudden and brief illness. Graham’s death—a influential and leading figure in American foreign policy and one of Israel’s most prominent supporters in Washington—leaves a significant void in the Republican Party and the U.S. Senate.
His sudden death shocked Israel’s political establishment. Across the political spectrum, officials expressed deep sorrow over the passing of someone considered one of Israel’s most determined and significant supporters in Washington, emphasizing his security legacy and the strategic relationship he championed between the two countries.