TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was remembered as a relentless public servant, influential lawmaker, and trusted ally of United States (US) President Donald Trump during memorial services in Washington, D.C., attended by political leaders, foreign dignitaries, and members of Congress.
President Trump, speaking at the National Cathedral on Tuesday, described Graham as "one of the great figures in Senate history" who "died doing the work he was born to do." Trump said the South Carolina senator passed away "at the peak of his career" after decades of public service, while also recalling Graham's humor and their unlikely friendship. As reported by The New York Times, Trump joked that despite once publicly revealing Graham's cellphone number during the 2016 presidential campaign, the senator "did not stop calling me for the next 10 years."
Earlier in the day, Graham's flag-draped casket lay in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where Vice President JD Vance, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and lawmakers from both parties paid tribute to the senator's three-decade congressional career.
Vance described Graham as a "swashbuckling" politician whose personality made him impossible to ignore, while Thune called him "a towering figure" who consistently stood by his convictions, even when they were unpopular.
According to AP, the funeral drew an unusually broad international audience, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reflecting Graham's longstanding influence on U.S. foreign policy. Cabinet officials, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, current and former senators, and members of Graham's family also attended.
Throughout his Senate career, Graham built a reputation as one of Congress's most active dealmakers and one of Washington's strongest advocates for an assertive U.S. role in global affairs. He frequently traveled abroad, particularly alongside longtime allies Senator John McCain and former Senator Joe Lieberman, earning recognition as one of the Senate's leading voices on national security.
Although Graham fiercely criticized Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, the two later developed one of the closest relationships in Republican politics. Graham became one of Trump's most trusted advisers, particularly on foreign policy, while maintaining independent views on issues such as military intervention and support for Ukraine.
Trump acknowledged those differences during his eulogy, saying Graham "never saw a war that he didn't like," a remark that prompted laughter among mourners.
In the days before his death, Graham had been working to advance bipartisan legislation imposing tougher sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine. After the funeral, senators resumed consideration of the sanctions package, which colleagues described as one of Graham's final legislative priorities.
Sean Hannity, the Fox News host and longtime friend, said Graham deeply valued his relationships with Trump, Netanyahu, and Zelensky, describing him as someone who devoted his life to serving the United States and supporting democratic allies overseas.
Born in South Carolina, Graham entered Congress during the Republican wave election of 1994 before winning election to the Senate in 2002. Over more than two decades in the upper chamber, he became a central figure in bipartisan negotiations, judicial confirmations, national security debates, and foreign affairs.
He also played a significant personal role in raising his younger sister, Darline Graham, after the death of both their parents. Darline Graham has since been appointed to temporarily fill his Senate seat and is expected to compete in the upcoming special election.
Lindsey Graham died suddenly on July 11 at the age of 71 from what preliminary findings identified as a likely aortic tear, shortly after returning from overseas visits that included a NATO summit and his 10th trip to Ukraine.
His public funeral continues Wednesday in South Carolina, where he will be buried following a final memorial service.
Read: Trump Ally Lindsey Graham Dies at 71 After Sudden Illness
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