Trump remembers Graham as ‘giant of the Senate’ in eulogy

Senate Trump remembers Graham as ‘giant of the Senate’ in eulogy Comments: by Mallory Wilson - 07/28/26 3:35 PM ET Comments: Link copied by Mallory Wilson - 07/28/26 3:35 PM ET Comments: Link copied

NOW PLAYING

President Trump lauded the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) Tuesday for his work in the Senate and for his friendship.

“Today we gather in the deepest gratitude and profoundest sorrow to honor a beloved friend, a devoted brother, a respected statesman, a giant of the United States Senate, and a true American original who left us much too soon — and that can be the one and only Lindsey Graham,” Trump said.

The president’s eulogy at the Washington National Cathedral mentioned stories going back to when the two were vying for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

“He was a force of nature, and I will miss him greatly,” Trump said. “As you remember, Lindsey and I did not exactly get off to the best of starts, running against each other back in 2016.”

He mentioned a story about Graham saying “something rather nasty” and his retaliating by sharing Graham’s personal cell phone with a crowd.

“But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh because while I blew up his phone for one day, we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years,” Trump said.

The president said Graham “died doing the work he was born to do.”

“He was truly a great politician, serving the country he loved to serve so deeply,” he said. “He went out at the peak of his career, the top of his game as a legend that every one of us, many of us here today, were blessed to know him and a friend that none of us will ever forget.”

He spoke highly of his golf games with Graham and the late senator’s devotion to his family, especially his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, who has taken his seat in the Senate.

“He later said that for all his achievements — and he had many — his single proudest accomplishment was how well Darline turned out,” Trump said. “He had total respect and love for Darline. Nothing could be more fitting than that woman, who was Lindsey’s proudest legacy, now continues his legacy of service in the U.S. Senate.”

Graham was also eulogized by conservative talk show host Sean Hannity and Graham’s niece Emilie Boggs Roberts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were also in attendance, alongside Trump Cabinet officials, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and current and former lawmakers.

Add as preferred source on Google Tags Lindsey Graham

Comments: Link copied