WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump delivered the eulogy of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina on Tuesday during a celebration of life at the National Cathedral before Graham’s loved ones, members of the president’s cabinet, lawmakers and world leaders.
President Donald Trump delivered the eulogy of the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina Tuesday during a celebration of life at the National Cathedral before Graham’s loved ones, members of the president’s cabinet, lawmakers and world leaders. (TNND)
Trump began his remarks describing Graham as a man who rose from a modest rural childhood to become one of the most influential figures in American politics.
“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.
On July 11, Graham unexpectedly passed away at the age of 71 from what his office called a “brief and sudden illness,” later discovered to be a rupture in his aorta.
Graham spent more than three decades serving South Carolina in Congress in both the House and Senate. Trump called him a “force of nature” whom he will miss greatly.
“No matter how heated things got in Washington, virtually everyone, Republican or Democrat, liked Lindsey – well, not everybody, but it sounds good. Not everybody. He was a tough cookie,” Trump said in a moment of levity.
In his final days, Graham advocated for more American support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion and urged Trump to hold firm with Israel in the Iran war.
“He had unwavering faith in the righteousness of American power and prayer. He was extremely hawkish. I can tell you, he never saw a war that he didn’t like; only his true friends would understand that, but he wanted it for the good of our country,” Trump said.
Graham had just returned from Ukraine before he passed away. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Washington to attend Tuesday’s service.
Fox News host Sean Hannity also spoke. He recognized Graham’s rigorous travel schedule and zeal for foreign relations. Hannity said he disagreed with those who called Graham a “war monger,” insisting Graham ultimately strove for peace.
In one of his final social media posts, Graham said, “We want diplomacy to succeed. But if Iran tries to test us, we will obliterate them.”
Earlier in the day, Vice President JD Vance spoke at a memorial service at the U.S. Capitol, where he served alongside Graham as a senator for two years.
“I learned something from Lindsey Graham, the way that he interacted with people, the way that he was so interested in what was going on and what was moving people and what was motivating them and what they were interested in,” Vance said.