Donald Trump and various political leaders gathered in Washington on Tuesday afternoon to honor the late US senator Lindsey Graham. They remembered the “swashbuckling” South Carolina Republican as “a true American original,” whose commitment to “America First” did not lessen his support for an assertive US foreign policy.
Graham, who was often seen as a controversial figure and transitioned from rival to loyal ally of Trump, was recognized for advocating the US-Israel stance against Iran. He was also a key voice in the anti-abortion movement and a steadfast supporter of Israel, making him one of Capitol Hill’s most vocal proponents of interventionist foreign policy.
“He died doing the work he was born to do; he was truly a great politician, serving the country he loved so deeply,” Trump remarked during his eulogy at the National Cathedral.
“He left us at the peak of his career, at the top of his game as a legend that all of us here today were lucky enough to know and call a friend that we will never forget,” he continued.
Trump took this moment to express his support for Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, who has been appointed to fill her brother’s seat for the rest of his term. He highlighted Graham’s record as an advocate for war abroad.
“I’ll tell you, he never met a war he didn’t like. Only his true friends would get that. But it was always about what he believed was best for our country,” he stated.
The president acknowledged their rocky start during the 2016 election when they ran against each other. Recalling how Graham had called him a “jackass” and leaked his phone number publicly, Trump said: “It was Lindsey who had the last laugh because while I blew up his phone all for one day, we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years. It was not easy.”
Other speakers included Fox News host Sean Hannity, who noted that Graham would have felt honored by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presence alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after their meetings with Trump earlier in the day.
Hannity also aimed some light-hearted compliments at Trump sitting among them. “Lindsey, Mr President, I’d argue probably has a heavenly version of Mar-a-Lago. It might even be bigger… Because he’d obviously want to duplicate having you as his closest friend in life,” he commented.
During another ceremony earlier on Tuesday inside the Capitol Rotunda, US Senate Majority Leader John Thune praised Graham as “a fierce defender of Ukraine” following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and emphasized him being a strong advocate for the anti-abortion movement.
“I feel his absence every day; I know my colleagues do too,” Thune said emotionally. “I look forward to those days when you bring back laughter into our lives again.”
Darline Graham attended both services after being sworn in earlier this month. She is running in the Republican primary to take over her brother’s seat permanently.
Graham passed away unexpectedly earlier this month at age 71 shortly after returning from Kyiv. The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to join an afternoon service dedicated to him at Washington National Cathedral.
JD Vance credited Graham with securing Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the US Supreme Court in 2018-helping conservatives gain a supermajority within two years. “I believe that he saved that nomination,” Vance remarked.
“I choose to remember Lindsey Graham as someone who could argue with you on one matter but stand up for you on another issue,” Vance reflected. “I remember Lindsey Graham as someone who cared about people; because of that love, he reasoned with them respectfully and ultimately convinced them.”
“May God rest Senator Lindsey Graham’s soul-a true American original,” he concluded.
A former Air Force lawyer who served in reserve while serving in Congress, Graham entered politics through winning election into Congress in 1994 before managing Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial in 1999 and later winning a Senate seat in 2002. Just weeks before passing away, Graham overcame multiple challengers to win Republican nomination aiming for a fifth term.
On Wednesday morning in South Carolina where he’s from, ceremonies will commence including services followed by an F-16 flyover over Columbia’s state house before moving on processionally toward First Baptist Church for public memorial service.
A private family burial will occur later on Pickens County grounds where Central lies-the small town where both Darline and her older brother were born.
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