Lindsey Olin Graham (born July 9, 1955) is the senior U.S. Senator from South Carolina, serving since 2003. A former U.S. Representative, Graham has become a prominent voice on national security and foreign policy. He served in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps and Air Force Reserve, earning a Bronze Star. Graham holds a B.A. and J.D. from the University of South Carolina. He has transitioned from an initial Trump critic in 2016 to a close Trump ally, particularly after their March 2017 meeting. As Chair of the Senate Budget Committee, Graham has focused on economic policy, border security, and federal spending reduction.
Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, to parents who ran the Sanitary Cafe, a restaurant/bar/pool hall/liquor store. He was the first in his family to attend college. His mother died of Hodgkin's lymphoma when he was 21, and his father died 15 months later of a heart attack. These early losses matured him significantly. Graham attended the University of South Carolina for both undergraduate and law school, then served in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps from 1982-1988, working as a defense attorney and chief prosecutor in Europe. He was awarded a Bronze Star for meritorious service. After military service, he practiced law and served in the South Carolina House (1993-1995) before being elected to the U.S. House (1995-2003). He has never married or had children, which has been a topic of speculation in political circles. Graham served as one of the House impeachment managers during Clinton's impeachment in 1998.