Lindsey Graham remembered by Trump as 'giant of the US Senate' at funeral

July 28, 2026

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who died at age 71 from an aortic dissection after returning from Ukraine, was honored at a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral. President Trump delivered a eulogy praising Graham as a "giant of the United States Senate" and recounted their evolution from 2016 campaign rivals to close friends over the past decade. Graham, who served in the Senate since 2002, was known as a prominent foreign policy hawk who strongly supported Israel, Ukraine, and military intervention abroad.

Who is affected

Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill his Senate seat
The state of South Carolina, which lost its long-serving senator
Ukraine and Israel, which lost a major ally in the US Senate
President Trump and other political figures who were close to Graham
The US Senate and Republican Party, which lost a prominent foreign policy voice

What action is being taken

President Trump is delivering a eulogy at Graham's funeral service
A funeral service is being held at Washington National Cathedral
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Zelensky are attending the funeral to pay their respects
Speakers including Sean Hannity are paying tribute to Graham

Why it matters

Graham was one of the Senate's most influential voices on foreign policy for over two decades, particularly regarding US support for Ukraine and Israel at a time when the Republican Party is divided on foreign intervention. His death removes a key advocate for both countries in the Senate during critical international conflicts. Additionally, his close relationship with Trump in recent years made him an important bridge between the administration and traditional foreign policy hawks, making his absence significant for future US foreign policy direction.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC