No marriage, no kids: Lindsey Graham's remarks on ‘bachelorhood’ resurface after his death
Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina senator and supporter of Trump, passed away at 71 from an illness. He remained single throughout his life.
Lindsey Graham, a US senator and notable supporter of Donald Trump, has passed away. The 71-year-old, who served as a Republican representative for South Carolina, died on Saturday due to "a brief and sudden illness," according to his office.

Graham, who remained single throughout his life, once boldly said, “it's okay to be single.” He also stated that being single does not make him "defective."
Lindsey Graham was known for singlehood
According to his friends, Graham's single status was largely attributed to his complex family circumstances. While attending the University of South Carolina, he experienced the loss of both parents within a span of 15 months. At that time, his sister, Darline, was just 13 years old. Graham became her legal guardian when he joined the Air Force in 1982, ensuring she could access medical benefits.
Also Read: Lindsey Graham family and net worth: How rich was South Carolina Senator?
“I’ve been close once early on, [as I was] taking care of my sister,” Graham had stated when asked why he never got married, as per Politico. “It’s something I really don’t know the answer to, other than I think it’s OK. At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong about not being married. Having a marriage and a good family and children is a blessing. But I don’t think I’m a defective person by any means.”
He added: “I don’t think there’s anything in the Constitution that says single people need not apply for president. And if it bothers some people, then they won’t vote for me. I offer what I offer.”
Did Lindsey Graham date ‘some attractive women’?
Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), who was Graham's closest friend in the Senate, once disclosed, "I know he’s dated some attractive women from time to time, but I’ve never seen him get real serious.”
“I’ve often told Lindsey that he couldn’t find anybody that loves him as much as he does," he added with a big laugh.
While opening about “bachelorhood” on Face the Nation, he said, “I am single, like many other people. If you’ve got a good marriage, God bless you. If you’re single, there’s nothing wrong with you ... The last time I checked, there was nothing in the Constitution or at the White House that said, “Single people need not apply.” I’m going to be a ready-to-go Commander-in-Chief, protect everybody, single people included.”
Earlier, the Fix blog from The Washington Post highlighted that Graham was not the only one who was single – he was among over 100 million Americans aged 18 and above who are unmarried. The U.S. Census reports that unmarried people make up 44 percent of the total U.S. population aged 18 and older.
ABOUT THE AUTHORShweta KukretiShweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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