WASHINGTON - Sen. Lindsey Graham, the son of pool hall owners who became one of his generation’s most influential U.S. politicians, will be honored Tuesday during memorial services across Washington, D.C.
Graham’s remains will arrive at the U.S. Capitol, where he served more than 30 years as a dealmaker known for talking, laughing and flattering colleagues into action.
A military honor guard salutes during a Congressional tribute to late US Senator Lindsey Graham at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on July 28, 2026. Graham, a South Carolina Republican and key Trump ally who was elected to the Senate four times, di
Sen. Lindsey Graham, the son of pool hall owners who became one of his generation’s most influential U.S. politicians, will be honored Tuesday during memorial services across Washington, D.C.
A later funeral at Washington National Cathedral will draw lawmakers and foreign leaders, underscoring his reach on the global stage.
President Donald Trump is expected to deliver remarks at the cathedral, along with Fox News host Sean Hannity and other conservative figures. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy plan to attend, reflecting Graham’s long‑held belief in U.S. military strength and global engagement.
The services mark the start of two days of tributes. Graham will be buried Wednesday in South Carolina. He died suddenly July 11 at his Washington home of a likely aortic tear, according to preliminary findings. He had just returned from a NATO summit in Turkey, where he celebrated his birthday, and a visit to Ukraine. He was 71.
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The morning ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda offers a place of tribute where former presidents, military leaders and other prominent Americans have been memorialized. An Armed Forces Body Bearer Team will carry Graham’s remains in recognition of his Air Force service. Vice President JD Vance is expected to speak.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said it was fitting to give Graham a special Capitol honor "as we say our final goodbyes," calling him more than a colleague, a friend.