On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, hundreds of US lawmakers convened in the Capitol Rotunda to honor Lindsey Graham, the late Republican senator from South Carolina known for his hawkish foreign policy stance. Graham, who died suddenly on July 11 at age 71 from a heart ailment, was remembered as gregarious, funny, and persuasive.

Graham, a former Air Force lawyer and member of South Carolina’s Air National Guard, served in the state legislature and the US House of Representatives before winning his Senate seat in 2002. He was a staunch advocate for an interventionist US role globally and strongly supported both Israel and Ukraine.

His flag-draped coffin was placed at the center of the rotunda, where colleagues paid tribute to his dedication and personality. US Air Force bands played in recognition of his military service.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were expected to attend the funeral later that day, reflecting Graham's efforts to lobby Washington in support of their countries during conflict.

US President Donald Trump, who Graham initially denounced early in his political career before becoming a staunch supporter, was scheduled to speak at the funeral at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump praised Graham in a Fox News interview, saying, "It really ended up being a great friendship," and credited him for helping navigate partisan politics in Washington.

Colleagues recalled Graham as a great politician and gentleman, noting his ability to persuade across party lines and his serious commitment to his work, balanced by a talent for humor. One tribute highlighted, "there was no one, no one, who took his job more seriously than Lindsey Graham, but also, no one was more capable of cracking up a room during the work week here in Washington."

Sources