National and international leaders gather to remember the longtime South Carolina senator, military veteran and steadfast supporter of Israel
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump led tributes Tuesday to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham at Washington National Cathedral, remembering his longtime political ally as a towering figure in the Senate and a “true American original.”
Graham, a South Carolina Republican who served more than three decades in Congress, died July 11 at age 71 following a tear in his aorta, according to preliminary findings released by his office. His sudden death came shortly after he returned from a visit to Ukraine.
Before the cathedral service, Graham’s flag-draped casket was honored during a memorial ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where lawmakers from both parties gathered to recognize a career that shaped American foreign policy, judicial confirmations and national security debates for decades.
Trump recalled Graham’s transformation from a sharp rival during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign into one of the president’s most trusted allies in Washington. Although the two men frequently disagreed, their relationship grew into a powerful political partnership, particularly on matters involving Israel, Iran, Russia and the Middle East.
The funeral drew an extraordinary gathering of American officials and international leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Cabinet secretaries, current and former lawmakers, diplomats and television personalities also attended.
Graham was among Israel’s strongest defenders in Congress and repeatedly warned that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat to both Israel and the United States. Following his death, Netanyahu said Israel had lost one of its greatest friends and described Graham as a patriot who understood that the security of America and Israel was inseparable.
The senator was also remembered for his military service. Before entering elected office, Graham served as a lawyer in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps and later continued his service in the Air Force Reserve, eventually retiring as a colonel. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 and entered the Senate in 2003.
Throughout his Senate career, Graham became known as an energetic legislator who could form relationships across party lines while remaining a forceful advocate for conservative judges, a strong national defense and an assertive American role overseas. His impassioned defense of Kavanaugh during the justice’s contentious 2018 confirmation hearings became one of the defining moments of his political career.
Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to complete the remainder of his term, thanked Trump, Senate leaders and organizers for arranging what she called honorable tributes to her brother. Additional services and a private burial were scheduled in Graham’s home state of South Carolina.
Trump ordered flags at the White House, federal buildings, military installations and American facilities worldwide to be lowered to half-staff following Graham’s death, honoring his decades of service to South Carolina and the nation.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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