Netanyahu Recalls Late Senator Graham's Strong Stance on Israel Aid

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shared details regarding his last conversation with US Senator Lindsey Graham before the senator's passing at age 71. Speaking on Sunday afternoon to Fox & Friends Weekend, Netanyahu emphasized that Graham was deeply committed to maintaining military aid flows to Israel. He noted that Graham viewed American security as inextricably linked to Israeli safety and actively advocated for sustaining or increasing that support rather than reducing it.

The late senator, who passed away Saturday evening in Washington DC following a brief illness, had recently returned from Kyiv where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Netanyahu recounted telling Graham that Israel was now mature enough to manage its own defense financing and suggested phasing out US military support over several years until it reached zero. Despite this proposal, the senator remained steadfast in his belief that aid should continue.

This final exchange occurred just hours after President Donald Trump spoke with Graham on Saturday night. The President described their relationship as family-like and recalled a phone conversation where Graham expressed fatigue but insisted on passing the SAVE America Act he had co-sponsored. Trump affirmed to Graham that they would ensure the legislation passed, promising to meet again soon.

The SAVE America Act has cleared the House of Representatives three times but still requires 60 votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster and become law. Lindsey Graham, who represented South Carolina since 2002, died before seeing this specific legislative hurdle cleared under his own sponsorship. His office confirmed the death early Sunday morning, while President Trump immediately paid tribute on Truth Social, honoring him as one of the greatest senators he knew and a true American patriot whose work ethic was unmatched.

Former President Donald Trump expressed deep sorrow on his Truth Social platform regarding the death of Senator Lindsey Graham.

Graham was a loyal ally who frequently advised the administration on foreign policy issues concerning Russia and Iran. He stood firmly with both Ukraine and Israel during his tenure in Congress.

In late March 2025, shortly after taking office, Trump released a long post honoring the senator as a wonderful friend. The White House also ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Sunday morning to mark the occasion.

Trump appeared on major networks like NBC News and CNN to share his personal grief over losing such a close colleague. When asked by Jake Tapper about the late Republican, Trump highlighted Graham's defense of Brett Kavanaugh as his finest moment.

The former president stated that Kavanaugh was treated unfairly during the Supreme Court hearings. He described the situation involving Associate Justice Kavanaugh as one of the top five moments in Senate history. This praise referenced Graham's fierce opposition to sexual assault allegations against the nominee in 2018.

At the time, Graham called the confirmation process an unethical sham and insisted that the judge had nothing to apologize for. He urged his party members to support the judicial appointment despite intense political pressure.