U.S. President Donald Trump on the 28th (local time) attended the funeral of the late Republican heavyweight Sen. Lindsey Graham, who recently died suddenly, and offered deep condolences. Trump honored the deceased, who went from a political nemesis to one of his core allies, and praised the enormous mark left on Washington politics and the international community. Leaders of countries at war, including Israel and Ukraine, also attended the funeral side by side to bid farewell, underscoring the weight of his presence.
According to major media reports on the 28th, Trump in his eulogy at the Washington National Cathedral described Graham as "a beloved friend, a respected statesman, a giant of the Senate and an American original." Trump said, "For more than 30 years, nothing important happened in the U.S. Congress without Lindsey Graham knowing," and "There was no bill passed without Lindsey Graham's say-so."
The two were fierce rivals during the 2016 presidential primary. Trump recalled the 2015 episode when he disclosed Graham's personal cell phone number during a rally and said, "I did something I shouldn't have done." He went on, "After that we became good friends, and for the next 10 years he never stopped calling me," describing their connection. At the same time, referring to the deceased's ultra-hawkish leanings, he said, "There wasn't a war he didn't dislike," and assessed, "He firmly believed our destiny was to win."
The funeral followed a morning memorial in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and an afternoon Mass at the cathedral. Graham died suddenly of an aortic rupture on the 11th, shortly after consecutive visits to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and Ukraine. He was seen as representing the traditional conservative camp while practicing politics of dialogue and compromise, unafraid to negotiate with the Democratic Party.
Trump said, "Not everyone liked Lindsey, but he was a tough person," adding, "He was the first person to make you laugh and the last person you really wanted to fight." Vice President J.D. Vance said, "Without the fierce defense the deceased showed during the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Kavanaugh would not be on the Supreme Court," lauding his contributions.
Reflecting the stature of the deceased, who wielded immense influence on the international stage, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the funeral side by side. Key figures in the U.S. administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, also turned out in full to honor him.
On the evening of the 28th, the U.S. Senate plans to hold a first procedural vote on a Russia sanctions bill that the deceased had worked on tirelessly to secure Trump's support for, as a tribute to him. After losing their parents early, the deceased personally cared for his younger sister, Darlene Graham, who recently was named governor and is now serving in the Senate, succeeding her brother for the remainder of his term.