President Trump eulogized Sen. Lindsey Graham at the Washington National Cathedral, calling him a "true American original" and recalling their decade-long friendship that grew after a contentious 2016 primary. Graham, a four-term senator and retired Air Force colonel known for his hawkish foreign-policy views and staunch defense of Brett Kavanaugh, died July 11 from an aortic dissection. The national memorial drew lawmakers and international leaders; additional services and a private burial in Pickens, South Carolina, are scheduled for Wednesday.
Trump Eulogizes Lindsey Graham as a “True American Original” at National Cathedral
President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attend the funeral service for Sen. Lindsey Graham at the Washington National Cathedral on July 28, 2026. / Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
President Donald Trump delivered a eulogy for Sen. Lindsey Graham at a memorial service held at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., calling the late South Carolina senator a "true American original" and a "beloved friend." The ceremony was attended by members of Congress and international leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Graham, a four-term Republican senator known for his hawkish foreign-policy views and a long personal friendship with Mr. Trump, died on July 11 from an aortic dissection related to heart disease. He will be buried Wednesday at Mount Zion Cemetery in Pickens County, South Carolina, with a private family interment following public memorial events.
The Washington service lasted a little more than two hours and concluded with Graham's casket carried from the sanctuary. His niece, Emillie Boggs Roberts, thanked attendees for their support and described the outpouring of sympathy as "deeply healing." She emphasized that Graham was a devoted family man whose life revolved around his sister, extended family, longtime friends, colleagues, staff and the citizens of South Carolina.
Eulogies and Remembrances
Fox News host Sean Hannity, who delivered a eulogy, recalled Graham's ardent defense of Brett Kavanaugh during the 2018 Supreme Court confirmation hearings and described Graham's fury at what he called improper treatment of the nominee. Kavanaugh and his wife, Ashley, were among those in attendance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the funeral service for Sen. Lindsey Graham on July 28, 2026. / Credit: Evelyn Hockstein / REUTERS
President Trump recounted their personal and political history — from a contentious 2016 primary clash to a decade of friendship that included countless phone calls and golf outings. Trump joked about a moment from the 2016 race when he publicly shared Graham's personal cellphone number and said the prank helped kick-start their friendship. He also highlighted Graham's upbringing in Central, South Carolina, his service as an Air Force lawyer, and his strong belief in American strength and leadership abroad.
"From that pool hall where his parents raised him to the halls of the United States Senate... this son of South Carolina became one of the most important men in the most important country on earth," Mr. Trump said, praising Graham's persistence and idealism.
Trump described Graham as "extremely hawkish," saying he "never saw a war that he didn't like," but added that the senator always believed in pursuing what he saw as America's best interests. The president noted that Graham kept his father's putter and his mother's ring at his bedside in his final hours.
The ceremony also included remarks from Vice President J.D. Vance, who praised Graham's love of the Senate and recounted a story showing Graham's willingness to support colleagues even when he personally did not care for an issue. Senate leaders and lawmakers from both parties attended earlier remembrances at the U.S. Capitol, where Graham lay in state and received military honors.
Honors, Military Service and Continuing Events
Before his congressional career, Graham served more than six years on active duty as an Air Force lawyer and later served in the South Carolina Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves from 1995 to 2015, retiring as a colonel. A defense official confirmed the Air Force has begun the administrative process to consider renaming Joint Base Charleston in his honor.
Attendees pay their respects during a congressional tribute to Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on July 28, 2026. / Credit: Nathan Howard-Pool / Getty Images
Following the national memorial, additional services are scheduled in South Carolina, beginning with a procession at the South Carolina State House that will include a presentation by law enforcement, a South Carolina State Guard honor detail and an F-16 flyover. The procession will end at First Baptist Church of Columbia for a public funeral service, followed by a private family burial in Pickens.
Participants and Observations
International leaders were visible around the cathedral; Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Zelenskyy were seen speaking with one another and had separate meetings with President Trump earlier in the day. Clergy who participated in the service included leaders from the Washington National Cathedral and invited clergy from South Carolina. The event drew a wide roster of lawmakers, friends, and family who remembered Graham as outspoken, loyal to allies, and devoted to family.
Service Details
What: Funeral service for Sen. Lindsey Graham
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Time: Begins at 2 p.m. ET
Location: Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C.
Online Stream: Live on CBS News and available on mobile and streaming devices.
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