Lindsey Graham eulogized as an 'American original' in DC services

WASHINGTON - Sen. Lindsey Graham, the son of pool hall owners who rose to become one of his generation’s most influential U.S. politicians, was remembered Tuesday in Washington as "a true American original."

Graham’s flag‑draped casket arrived at the U.S. Capitol, where he served more than 30 years as a dealmaker known for talking, laughing and prodding colleagues into action. 

Later, President Donald Trump joined foreign leaders at Washington National Cathedral for a funeral that emphasized Graham’s global importance.

Trump called Graham "a giant of the United States Senate" and "a true American original who left us much too soon." In mostly prepared remarks, he described Graham as someone who could make people laugh and someone "you’ve really ever wanted to fight." Trump recounted publicly sharing Graham’s cellphone number during the 2016 campaign, joking that Graham "did not stop calling me for the next 10 years."

Among those attending were Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy, leaders of nations at war and a reflection of Graham’s belief in U.S. military strength. Fox News’ Sean Hannity said Graham would have been moved by their presence. Cabinet officials, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, lawmakers and Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, joined for the service.

The service marked the start of two days of remembrances. Graham will be buried Wednesday in South Carolina, where Joint Base Charleston will be renamed in his honor. He died July 11 at age 71 of a likely aortic tear, shortly after returning from a NATO summit in Turkey and a visit to Ukraine.

Graham spent his final days negotiating tough Russia sanctions aimed at helping Ukraine. Senators advanced the package late Tuesday as a tribute to him.

During the morning service in the Capitol Rotunda, Vice President JD Vance described Graham as a "swashbuckling" figure who arrived in the Senate with his jacket open and was impossible not to like. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called him "a towering figure," pausing to collect himself during his remarks.

First elected to Congress in 1994, Graham was part of a new wave of Southern conservatives. He gained prominence as a manager in President Bill Clinton’s impeachment and won a Senate seat in 2002. There, he formed a close alliance with Sens. John McCain and Joe Lieberman, as the "three amigos," traveling the world on national security missions.

Vance recalled arguing with Graham over Ukraine aid but praised his legacy, noting Kavanaugh "would not be on the Supreme Court" without Graham’s advocacy. 

Colleagues lined up to say goodbye. Sen. Katie Britt placed both hands on his casket. Sen. Tammy Duckworth saluted from her wheelchair. Former Sen. Richard Burr bowed and kissed the casket, and Sen. John Kennedy offered a fist bump.

Graham’s political dexterity was perhaps most evident in his evolving relationship with Trump. After denouncing him in 2016, Graham became what colleagues called the "Trump whisperer," someone world leaders relied on to understand the president. Days before his death, Graham secured Trump’s support for a bipartisan Russia sanctions plan aimed at curbing Vladimir Putin’s ability to prolong the war in Ukraine.

Senators said they hoped to move the sanctions package as a tribute. After the funeral, Zelenskyy visited the Capitol and watched the Senate roll call from the gallery.

At the cathedral, socially conservative and anti‑abortion leaders delivered readings. Hannity noted how important Darline Graham and her family were to the senator, prompting her to place her hand over her heart.

Graham never married but helped raise his younger sister after their parents died while he was in college and law school. He became her guardian when she was 13.

Darline Graham is now running in a crowded primary field to fill the seat. The filing period for the special election closes Tuesday, with voting set for Aug. 11.

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