WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump remembered Lindsey Graham as a formidable political figure and longtime friend Tuesday as lawmakers, former colleagues and international leaders gathered in Washington to honor the late South Carolina senator.

The tributes reflected Graham’s more than three decades in Congress and his prominent role in U.S. foreign policy. His flag-draped casket became the focal point for a series of personal goodbyes from senators and former lawmakers, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Washington as memorial events got underway.

Graham, a Republican who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate for more than 20 years after serving in the House, died July 11 after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness. He was 71.

Following Graham’s death, Trump ordered U.S. flags at federal buildings, military installations and American facilities abroad lowered to half-staff in recognition of the senator’s service.

Trump Remembers Lindsey Graham as a Political Force

Trump portrayed Graham as a politician whose influence extended well beyond the Senate chamber, describing him as someone who became a “constant fixture of American politics at the highest level, and a force to be reckoned with all over the world.”

“For more than 30 years, nothing of consequence happened in this capital without Lindsey Graham knowing about it. Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it,” Trump said.

Trump also emphasized Graham’s influence over legislation and Republican politics.

“And no bill became law in the most exceptional Republican human history without Lindsey Graham having a say in it,” Trump said.

He Had a Long Career 

Graham’s political career included years in the House of Representatives before his election to the Senate in 2002. Over the following decades, he developed a national profile, particularly on military and foreign policy issues.

Trump’s relationship with Graham evolved considerably over the years. The two clashed sharply during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign, when Graham was among Trump’s critics. Graham later became one of Trump’s most recognizable allies in the Senate, even as the two continued to disagree on some issues.

Trump and Graham Relationship

In his tribute, Trump focused on the personal relationship they developed and the senator’s years of public service.

“He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart until that heart itself just gave out,” Trump said.

“He left us much too soon.”

Personal Goodbyes to Lindsey Graham

The formal ceremonies were accompanied by quiet and sometimes highly personal moments as lawmakers approached Graham’s flag-draped casket.

Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., placed both hands on the casket before putting a hand over her heart.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., an Iraq War veteran who lost both legs after the Black Hawk helicopter she was piloting was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade in 2004, saluted from her wheelchair.

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Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., approached Graham’s casket and gave a fist bump in a distinctive farewell to his former colleague.

The gathering also brought former senators back to the Capitol to honor Graham. Former Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., bowed before the casket and briefly kissed it.

Other mourners paused in front of the casket, some offering short prayers or making the sign of the cross.

The range of lawmakers paying their respects underscored the relationships Graham built during a congressional career spanning more than three decades.

Netanyahu Calls Lindsey Graham a ‘Dear Friend’

Graham’s death also prompted tributes from foreign leaders who had worked closely with him on national security and foreign policy.

Netanyahu attended a memorial dinner for Graham in Washington on Monday evening. According to a statement from the Israeli prime minister’s office, the gathering included Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, along with other relatives, friends, senior administration officials and members of Congress.

Netanyahu described Graham as a “dear friend” and praised his longstanding support for Israel.

The Israeli leader said Graham was “deeply committed to the security of the United States, to the security of Israel, and to the ongoing fight against anti-Semitism.”

Graham had been one of Israel’s most outspoken supporters in Congress and regularly addressed threats posed by Iran and other security challenges in the Middle East.

His relationship with Netanyahu was part of a broader foreign policy profile that made Graham a familiar figure to leaders far beyond Washington.

Zelenskyy Offers Condolences During Washington Visit

Zelenskyy also traveled to Washington, where he met with Trump at the White House before the funeral ceremonies.

The Ukrainian president had a particularly close working relationship with Graham, who became one of the most vocal advocates in Congress for continued U.S. support for Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

In a social media post following his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy said he had offered his condolences over Graham’s death.

After Graham died, Zelenskyy described the senator as a “true defender of freedom” and highlighted Graham’s repeated visits to Ukraine during the war.

Graham had traveled to Ukraine numerous times and continued pressing for measures aimed at increasing economic pressure on Russia. In the weeks before his death, he had been involved in efforts to advance tougher sanctions targeting Moscow.

His support for Ukraine was part of a foreign policy approach that often emphasized U.S. military strength, international alliances and a willingness to confront American adversaries.

Farewell to Lindsey Garaham Had International Reach

The presence of Netanyahu and Zelenskyy alongside U.S. political leaders demonstrated the international reach Graham developed during his years in Washington.

At home, his colleagues remembered a senator who was deeply involved in debates over the military, national security, judicial nominations and foreign affairs. Abroad, he built relationships with leaders confronting wars, terrorism and geopolitical rivalries.

The memorial events in Washington were followed by services in Graham’s home state of South Carolina. His family announced funeral observances in Columbia and Pickens County following the Washington ceremonies.

For Trump, Graham’s death was also the loss of a political ally and friend whose path had become closely intertwined with his own.

For the senators who approached Graham’s flag-draped casket, the farewell was often expressed without words — through a salute, a prayer, a hand over the heart or one final fist bump.

Relevant Links

White House — Proclamation on the Death of Senator Lindsey Graham:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/death-of-senator-lindsey-graham/

White House — President Trump Honors the Life and Legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/07/president-trump-honors-the-life-and-legacy-of-senator-lindsey-graham/

U.S. Senate — In Memory of Senator Lindsey Graham:
https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=D50CDA82-2362-42FA-8AC6-C671A8DF0F83

PBS NewsHour — Lindsey Graham Remembered at U.S. Capitol Ceremony:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-sen-lindsey-graham-remembered-in-u-s-capitol-rotunda-ceremony

CBS News — U.S. and World Leaders Pay Tribute to Lindsey Graham:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lindsey-graham-us-world-leaders-pay-tribute-following-sudden-death-trump-netanyahu/