President Donald Trump called the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) a “true American original” as dignitaries, including world leaders, gathered at Washington National Cathedral for his funeral on July 28.
In a speech, Trump also praised Graham as “a beloved friend, a devoted brother, a respected statesman, [and] a giant of the United States Senate” who passed away too soon.
“By the strength of his steadfast convictions, the force of his magnetic personality, and the goodness of his noble soul, Lindsey rose from a small town in rural South Carolina, a place he loved so much, to become a constant fixture of American politics at the highest level, and a force to be reckoned with all over the world,” the president said.
Trump emphasized Graham’s impact on Washington.
“For more than 30 years, nothing of consequence happened in this capital without Lindsey Graham knowing about it,” he said. “Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it.
“In a city where politicians often become jaded and cynical, Lindsey Graham never lost the old-fashioned American idealism that brought him to the highest levels of government and life.”
Trump touted Graham’s legislative accomplishments such as securing record funding for the military, delivering the largest investment in border security, and shepherding last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included tax cuts.
The president also cited Graham as “a great champion of the United States Supreme Court” and noted Graham’s impassioned defense of Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 confirmation hearing when Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault.
“[Graham] gave us one of the greatest moments the Senate has ever seen,” Trump said. “It was a truly monumental moment in Senate history.”
Trump recalled the time that he and Graham ran against each other for the GOP presidential nomination in the 2016 election. The president jokingly gave out Graham’s old cellphone number, something that Trump did in a speech on the campaign trail.
Additionally, Trump said he would “cherish” the golf games the two played.
Earlier, Graham lay in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as mourners gathered to remember the longtime member of Congress. His casket, covered by an American flag, was carried by U.S. service members in tribute to Graham’s military service.
At the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-S.C.) said Graham was more than a member of Congress.
“When people talk about Lindsey Graham, they often talk about the titles he has held—the congressman, the senator, the chairman, the colonel—but titles only tell a small part of the story,” she said. “To truly understand Lindsey, you have to understand his deep love for South Carolina and his family, and his belief that public service is a responsibility, not simply a position.
“To say he loved South Carolina is an understatement.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said that Graham was respected by members of both major political parties.
“Senators on both sides of the aisle counted him as a friend,” Thune said.
“Lindsey was a towering figure here in the Senate and on the international stage.
“His leadership on national security and our national defense is well known.”
Thune said that while Graham “will be remembered as a senator and as a statesman,” Thune will remember him as a friend.
Vice President JD Vance, who served with Graham in the Senate, said Graham “loved people from all walks of life.”
In addition to Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were scheduled to attend the funeral service at the Washington National Cathedral. A separate funeral and burial for Graham will be conducted on July 29 in South Carolina.
Graham was first elected to Congress in 1994 and served in the House of Representatives between 1995 and 2003. He served in the Senate from 2003 until his death.
Graham was known as a close ally of Trump, especially during the president’s second term. While he initially cut ties with the president following the Jan. 6, 2021, protests at the U.S. Capitol, he soon went back to supporting him.
Known as a hawk on foreign policy, Graham supported military action against Iran in seeking to block the country from obtaining nuclear weapons. He was also tough on Russia, authoring a sanctions bill that the Senate is expected to take up this week. The bill is named after him.
Graham was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
