Nationwide political leaders and outstanding figures from across the globe remembered the late South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham with a ceremony on Capitol Hill and a funeral service in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to his shut ally with a eulogy on the Washington Nationwide Cathedral service, by which he referred to as Graham a “beloved pal.”
“As we speak, we collect within the deepest gratitude and profoundest sorrow to honor a beloved pal, a devoted brother, a revered statesman, a large of the USA Senate and a real American unique who left us a lot too quickly,” Trump stated. “And that may solely be the one and solely Lindsey Graham.”
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Eric Trump, Lara Trump stand behind the coffin of Sen. Lindsey Graham throughout his funeral service on the Washington Nationwide Cathedral, July 28, 2026 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Photographs
Trump praised Graham’s position in Congress, saying that “nothing of consequence occurred on this Capitol with out Lindsey Graham understanding about it.” Graham served 4 phrases within the Home of Representatives earlier than a 23-year profession within the Senate.
“He was a person who gave America the complete measure of his good and mighty coronary heart till that coronary heart itself simply gave out,” Trump stated.
Graham died suddenly and unexpectedly on July 11 on the age of 71. Preliminary findings from the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia stated that the senator died as a result of “aortic dissection as a result of arteriosclerotic heart problems.”
Trump additionally commented on Graham’s hawkish international coverage stance.
“I’ll let you know, he by no means noticed a battle that he did not like. Solely his true associates would perceive that. However he needed it for the nice of our nation. He felt in his bones that our future is to win, and that his job was to do all the things he might to make sure our enemies would lose,” Trump stated.
Final month, Darline Graham stated her brother “did not love battle,” and that he “needed peace.”
The funeral was attended by a lot of world leaders, together with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Graham labored intently with each males as a staunch ally to each nations. Graham spent a few of his remaining days in Ukraine and met with Zelenskyy simply earlier than he died.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha on the funeral service for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham at Washington Nationwide Cathedral in Washington, July 28, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Fox Information host Sean Hannity and Graham’s niece, Emillie Boggs Roberts, additionally delivered remarks.
“At his core, Lindsey was a person pushed by precept: God, household, nation. He was a pal’s pal. He was a terrific patriot. He fought with each ounce of power he had in his physique for the issues that he deeply believed in,” Hannity stated.
Hannity, additionally commenting on Graham’s international coverage strategy, stated he was “usually unfairly characterised as a battle monger.”
“The reality was the alternative,” Hannity stated. “Lindsey desperately needed and talked to the president a couple of lasting peace within the Center East. He needed each area, each nation within the area, on that path to peace.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Ukrainian Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha on the funeral service for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham at Washington Nationwide Cathedral in Washington, July 28, 2026.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Roberts shared touching household tales of the senator, together with the position he performed in her mom, Darline Graham’s, life: that of a brother and a mum or dad.
“He held a couple of position for every of us. He wasn’t simply an uncle, a brother, a nephew. He was the muse of our household,” Roberts stated.
Emillie Boggs Roberts, Sen. Lindsey Graham’ s niece, delivers remarks through the funeral service for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on the Washington Nationwide Cathedral, July 28, 2026 in Washington.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs
Darline Graham was sworn in as a U.S. senator earlier this month to complete the remainder of her brother’s time period. She has since introduced she is operating for a full six-year time period this November.
“He had whole respect and love for Darline,” Trump stated in his remarks. “Nothing could possibly be extra becoming than that lady who was Lindsey’s proudest legacy now continues his legacy of service within the U.S. Senate, a spot that he cherished. And I’ve little doubt that he is trying down at this time, beaming with pleasure at his sister, Sen. Darline Graham.”
Closing farewell on the Capitol
Graham first was acknowledged with a ceremony within the Capitol rotunda Tuesday morning. His casket, draped in an American flag, was escorted by Air Drive personnel and acquired by members of his household on the Capitol steps.
Sen. Darline Graham Nordone pays her respects over the casket throughout a memorial tribute for her brother, the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham within the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, July 28, 2026 in Washington.
Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
A large number of senators, each Democrats and Republicans, have been in attendance. Senate Majority Chief John Thune and Vice President JD Vance gave remarks, as did South Carolina Republican Rep. Sheri Briggs.
The casket of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham lies in state throughout a memorial tribute within the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, July 28, 2026 in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Photographs
Thune remembered Graham for his work in nationwide safety and protection, his efforts on the Senate Judiciary Committee and for his dedication to pro-life points.
Thune appeared to choke again tears towards the ends of his remarks as he stated a remaining goodbye to Graham.
“To Lindsey, relaxation in peace, my pal. I stay up for the times once you make us all snort once more,” he stated.
Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, Sen. Marsh Blackburn, Senate Majority Chief John Thune and Vice President JD Vance attend a Congressional Tribute to the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham within the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, July 28, 2026 in Washington.
Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool by way of Getty Photographs
Vance stated he’ll keep in mind Graham as somebody who would battle alongside you on points you each care about whereas respectfully disagreeing on others, and shared a narrative of an “intense argument” they’d over Ukraine, however that it did not cease Graham from supporting him on one other subject.
U.S. army joint drive pallbearers carry the flag-draped casket of the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham into the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, July 28, 2026.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters
“I select to recollect Lindsey Graham as an individual who might battle with you on one subject, however battle for you on one other subject,” the vice chairman stated. “I keep in mind Lindsey Graham as a person who beloved folks, and since he beloved folks, he was keen to purpose with them, to respect them, and finally to influence them.”
“It was unimaginable to not like him — that swashbuckling, infectious snort, that perspective, that zeal that so many others have talked about. Lindsey Graham was unimaginable to not like as a human being, and naturally, as a United States senator,” Vance added in his speech.
An Armed Forces Physique Bearer Crew strikes the casket of late Sen. Lindsey Graham upon arrival for a Congressional tribute within the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, July 28, 2026, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/Pool by way of Getty Photographs
A U.S. flag flies at half-staff on the day of a Congressional Tribute to late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, July 28, 2026.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters
Air Drive base to be identifyd after Graham
Graham’s casket will return to South Carolina on Wednesday, the place additional memorial providers are set for Columbia, the state’s capital, and Pickens County, the place Graham grew up and a part of the district he represented.
The U.S. Air Drive will rename Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina for Graham, a White Home official confirmed on Tuesday.
The bottom, which falls underneath the command of the USA Air Drive’s 628th Air Base Wing, can be renamed to Joint Base Lindsey Graham, in accordance with a memorandum from Secretary of the Air Drive Troy Meink dated July 27.
Within the memo obtained by ABC Information, Meink stated that the renaming would honor “Graham’s many years of distinguished service to the USA Congress and the USA Air Drive.” It was not instantly clear when the change would go into impact.
