US Senator Lindsey Graham died last night shortly after contracting a sudden illness, according to his office's communications director on platform 'X' on Sunday.

The senator, who died at age 71, was a senior Republican from South Carolina and was previously one of President Donald Trump's sharpest critics before becoming one of his most loyal allies in Congress.

His office said, 'The Graham family appreciates the prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this very difficult period.'

Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002, and according to his website, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district before entering the Senate.

His website stated that Graham, known for his tough stances on defense, 'consistently sought results in the war on terror that protect long-term national security interests.'

Graham recently served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was a member of the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works committees. He was unmarried and resided in Seneca.