President Trump is delivering a eulogy at Senator Lindsey Graham’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral on July 28, honoring the four-term South Carolina Republican who died on July 11 at age 71 from an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Graham’s two-day memorial began with an arrival ceremony at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday morning, where his remains were carried by an Armed Forces Body Bearer team to recognize his Air Force service. The Capitol Rotunda ceremony was closed to the public, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune noting that “it seems fitting for his friends and colleagues to give back to him through this special Capitol honor.”
The funeral service at 2 p.m. at the National Cathedral drew international attention, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending—a reflection of Graham’s outsized influence on American foreign policy. Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia’s 2022 invasion, using his relationship with Trump to lobby for continued U.S. support. On his final trip to Ukraine, he had spoken with Zelenskyy about planned new U.S. sanctions and tariffs against Russia, according to CBS News.
Graham’s relationship with Trump evolved dramatically over time. Initially a vocal critic during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, Graham transformed into one of Trump’s closest allies in the Senate. NBC News reported that Graham had emerged as a top ally who spoke frequently with Trump and served as a crucial conciliator between the president and other GOP senators, often mediating their rocky relationships. When asked how he maintained the relationship, Graham told NBC in February: “Well, one, be mildly entertaining.”
Graham represented South Carolina in the Senate since 2003 and became known as a foreign policy hawk. CBS News described him as “a key player in a number of major bipartisan agreements” before his death. His sister, Darline Graham, was appointed to serve out the remainder of his term.
A second funeral service will be held Wednesday morning in South Carolina, beginning with a procession at the State House in Columbia around 10:45 a.m., followed by a service at the First Baptist Church of Columbia and a private family burial in Pickens.
Trump had spoken with Graham hours before his death. According to NBC News, Trump said that “other than being tired, he was fine,” and described Graham’s passing as “a quick end, and maybe that’s not the worst thing.” Trump announced Graham’s death on social media, calling him “one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known.”
Sources
- CBS News — Graham’s death from aortic dissection, funeral details, his role as four-term senator and foreign policy hawk, Ukraine trip details
- NBC News — Trump’s last conversation with Graham, Graham’s role as Trump ally and conciliator with GOP senators
- NPR — Netanyahu and Zelenskyy attendance at funeral and White House meetings
- USA Today — Funeral schedule and world leaders attending
- The Atlantic — Graham’s trip to Ukraine and Trump relationship context
