US senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham dies after sudden illness

US Senator Lindsey Graham passed ‌away on Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness, the communications ⁠director for his office ‌said in a social media post early on Sunday.

Graham, ⁠71, ⁠was a prominent ‌Republican senator from South Carolina.

Earlier in his career, he was a vocal critic of US President Donald Trump before becoming one of his most loyal allies ⁠on Capitol Hill.

“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this ‌time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” his office added.

Graham was ‌elected to the US Senate in 2002. ⁠Before serving in ⁠the Upper House, he was elected to the US House ‌of Representatives in 1994 for South Carolina’s third congressional district, according to ‌his website.

A ‌defence hawk, his website said he had “consistently ‌pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror ⁠that protect our long-term national security interests”.