Lindsey Graham was tough on Russia. Moscow hopes to gain from his death.

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Democracy Dies in Darkness

Graham had carried the reputation as the toughest Russia hawk in Washington since the 2018 death of his close friend and Senate ally John McCain.

July 14, 2026 at 11:39 a.m. EDT21 minutes ago

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) with Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut). In Graham’s final days, the two lawmakers were pushing hard on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

With the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, who was widely viewed in Moscow as the toughest voice against Russia in U.S. politics, some pro-Kremlin officials and commentators are now hoping to gain new advantage in Washington and especially in the Trump White House.