President Donald Trump has paid an emotional tribute to longtime ally Senator Lindsey Graham following the South Carolina Republican’s sudden death, describing him as one of the greatest senators and patriots he had ever known.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump praised Graham’s decades of public service and reflected on their long and often complicated political relationship.

“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!” Trump wrote. “He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed. Details and arrangements to follow. So sad!”

Trump’s message came just hours after Graham’s office announced that the four-term senator had died following a “brief and sudden illness” at the age of 71. His family asked for privacy as they mourned his passing.

Although Graham and Trump were once fierce political rivals during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, the two later formed one of the closest alliances in modern Republican politics. Graham became one of Trump’s strongest supporters in Congress, frequently defending his policies and serving as a trusted adviser on national security and foreign affairs.

Trump’s tribute was widely viewed as a heartfelt acknowledgment of that friendship, highlighting Graham’s dedication to public service and his commitment to the United States.

Tributes also poured in from political leaders across the United States and abroad, with many praising Graham’s influence on foreign policy and his decades in the Senate.

Graham had served South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and remained one of the Republican Party’s most recognizable voices until his death.