Lindsey Graham funeral updates: Trump to deliver tribute as late senator is laid to rest

‘Hard to believe he's gone’: Donald Trump on Lindsey GrahamLindsey Graham’s funeral is set to take place in Washington, D.C. Tuesday, with President Donald Trump slated to deliver a tribute to the late South Carolina Republican.The body of the 71-year-old senator – who died unexpectedly on July 11 after an aortic rupture – will be brought to the U.S. Capitol’s Rotunda, where a short private ceremony will be held in recognition of Graham’s more than two decades of service in the Senate.His funeral will follow at Washington National Cathedral at 2:00 p.m., according to his sister Sen. Darline Graham, who was appointed to fill his seat and is now running for a full term.Trump, who said he was shocked by the senator’s passing, is among those scheduled to speak. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are expected to be among those in attendance.While closed to the public, Tuesday’s events will be livestreamed online. Additional services are planned in South Carolina Wednesday.An outspoken critic of Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, Graham later became one of his closest allies. He was a foreign policy hawk, frequently advocating for a more assertive U.S. role in Iran and Ukraine.Benjamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelensky to attend ceremonyIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are expected to attend Tuesday’s funeral service in Washington.Graham emerged as a pivotal ally on Capitol Hill for both leaders, consistently urging the Trump administration to take a more aggressive stance against Iran and to bolster support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.“Israel has lost one of its greatest friends,” Netanyahu said following Graham’s sudden death earlier this month. “America has lost a great patriot. I have lost a beloved friend.”“Lindsey was a true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer,” Zelensky wrote in his own statement. “We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations.”Graham and Netanyahu with the late Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain in Jerusalem on June 30, 2013 (Getty)Joe Sommerlad28 July 2026 09:00Full schedule for Graham’s funeral servicesFuneral services for Lindsey Graham will take place over the next two days in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina. The schedule is as follows:Tuesday: The body of the 71-year-old senator will be brought to the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, where a brief private ceremony will honor his more than two decades of service in the Senate. The ceremony will be livestreamed. Tuesday at 2 p.m.: A funeral service will be held at Washington National Cathedral. President Donald Trump is among those scheduled to speak, and multiple world leaders are expected to attend. The service will again be livestreamed. Tuesday evening: Graham’s remains will be transported to South Carolina. Wednesday at 10:45 a.m.: Services will begin with a final visit to the South Carolina State House, including a procession featuring an F-16 flyover. Wednesday at 12 p.m.: A funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of Columbia. Wednesday: A private family burial in Pickens County, South Carolina, will follow the service. Joe Sommerlad28 July 2026 08:35U.S. politicians and world leaders to pay tribute to Lindsey Graham Sen. Lindsey Graham will be eulogized Tuesday during memorial services across Washington.The long-serving politician passed away unexpectedly earlier this month at the age of 71.Graham’s remains will arrive at the U.S. Capitol, where the Republican worked for more than 20 years, later today.A funeral service will then be held at Washington National Cathedral with lawmakers and foreign leaders, a testament to his stature on the global stage.President Donald Trump is expected to deliver remarks at the cathedral, alongside Fox News’ Sean Hannity and other conservative leaders. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky are planning to be in attendance.Lindsey Graham passed away unexpectedly earlier this month (AFP/Getty)Joe Sommerlad28 July 2026 08:15