Time Magazine is reporting that President Donald Trump delivered a 14-minute eulogy for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham at a funeral service held at the Washington National Cathedral. The service, which took place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, was attended by domestic dignitaries, foreign leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and military officials.
President Trump paid tribute to Graham, who died unexpectedly on July 11 at age 71, saying, “He died doing the work he was born to do. He was truly a great politician.” Trump described Graham as a “tough cookie” and acknowledged his significant influence, stating that “nothing of consequence happened in this capital without Lindsey Graham knowing about it” for more than 30 years. The president also recalled a moment from their 2016 campaign when he shared Graham’s personal cell phone number, which he said marked “the beginning of a friendship in a way.”
Graham, a longtime fixture in Washington, was known for his hawkish posture and his role in the modern conservative movement. He served three decades in political office, transitioning from a Washington maverick to an unofficial envoy to the Trump White House. Speakers at the service, including Fox News host Sean Hannity and Graham’s South Carolina pastor, the Rev. Tim Tate, highlighted Graham’s ability to work across political divides for the common good, despite his often-irascible temperament. Graham’s defenders suggested his evolution as a Trump ally was driven by a desire to curb isolationist impulses, personal friendship, and to advance the traditional conservative agenda, such as Supreme Court nominations.