At Lindsey Graham’s funeral in Washington, President Donald Trump called the South Carolina senator a giant of the US Senate and praised his long political career.
President Donald Trump praised the Lindsey Graham funeral in Washington on Tuesday, calling the late South Carolina senator a “giant of the United States Senate” and a “true American original” who died much too soon. The service brought together some of the most powerful figures in American and world politics to remember a senator known for his forceful views on foreign affairs.
Trump said Graham gave America the full measure of his “good and mighty heart” before that heart gave out. Graham died earlier this month at age 71 after suffering an aortic dissection, a tear in the heart’s main artery, shortly after returning home from a trip to Kyiv, where he had met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky attended the funeral, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reflecting Graham’s strong backing for both Ukraine and Israel.
Graham first won election to the US Senate in 2022 and represented South Carolina until his death. He built a reputation as one of the chamber’s most outspoken foreign policy hawks, backing the US war with Iran, supporting Israel, and becoming one of Ukraine’s strongest allies in the Senate as Republicans remained divided over how far the United States should go in global conflicts. Trump told mourners that little of significance happened in the world without Graham having an opinion on it.
“At Lindsey Graham’s funeral in Washington, President Donald Trump called the South Carolina senator a giant of the US Senate and praised his long political career.”
The president’s remarks stayed close to his prepared tribute and ran about 15 minutes. He mixed recollections with lighter moments, including stories about golf, Graham’s focus on foreign policy, and his “magnetic personality” and “vim and vigour.” Trump also revisited their early clashes, saying the two exchanged harsh words during the 2016 presidential race before Graham later became a loyal ally after Trump’s victory. He joked that Graham got the last laugh after Trump once shared the senator’s phone number at a 2015 event.
Fox News host Sean Hannity also spoke, describing Graham as a “force of nature” and a “true original.” Hannity addressed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, who was chosen to fill his Senate seat after his death, and told her, “You were his life.” The service at Washington National Cathedral also drew Vice President JD Vance and other Trump administration officials. The setting underlined Graham’s reach in the capital, and the Lindsey Graham funeral showed just how wide his circle of power and influence had become. That matters because it marked the passing of a senator who shaped Washington’s foreign policy debates for years.
Frequently asked questions
How did Trump describe Lindsey Graham at the funeral?
Trump called Graham a “giant of the United States Senate” and a “true American original.” He also praised his “good and mighty heart.”
What caused Lindsey Graham’s death?
Graham died after suffering an aortic dissection, described as a tear in the heart’s main artery. He was 71.
Who attended the funeral?
Among those present were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Vice President JD Vance, and other Trump administration officials.
What was Lindsey Graham known for in the Senate?
He was known as an outspoken foreign policy hawk. He backed Israel, supported the U.S. war with Iran, and was one of Ukraine’s strongest allies in the Senate.
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