World leaders, including President Donald Trump, are gathering to pay tribute to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who passed away suddenly at the age of 71. Graham was a prominent and influential lawmaker on Capitol Hill. His funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday in Washington, followed by services in South Carolina, his home state, which he represented in Congress for over three decades.
On Tuesday morning, an armed forces body bearer team will honor Graham’s military service as they carry his casket. He served as an Air Force judge advocate general. Retiring from the Air Force Reserve in 2015, he held the rank of colonel. Although Graham will not lie in state, he will be honored with a ceremony in the Capitol’s rotunda. The armed forces team will be replaced by a U.S. Capitol Police memorial guard, highlighting his Senate service. This private ceremony will be livestreamed.
“From the military to state politics to decades of representing South Carolinians in Congress, Lindsey dedicated his life to giving back through public service,” stated Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
Following the Capitol ceremony, Graham’s casket will be transported to Washington National Cathedral for an invitation-only funeral service at 2 p.m. ET, also available via livestream. President Trump is expected to speak at the service, emphasizing the close relationship he shared with Graham, whom he regarded as family. Global leaders involved in defense and foreign policy, such as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are expected to attend.
Two days after Graham’s death, South Carolina GOP Governor Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham, to serve the remainder of his Senate term. She has announced her candidacy for a full six-year term and will manage her brother’s services, Senate duties, and campaign preparations for the August 11 primary election.
Graham’s final journey to South Carolina will follow the Washington services. The public is invited to pay respects along the route on Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. ET at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, where his political career began in 1993. His casket will be carried by a South Carolina State Guard horse-drawn caisson, and law enforcement agencies will present honors. An F-16 flyover from the 169th Fighter Wing is planned.
The caisson will proceed to First Baptist Church of Columbia for a funeral service. A private family burial will follow in Pickens County, South Carolina, where Lindsey and Darline Graham grew up.
Sen. Graham, who was chair of the Senate Budget Committee, died on July 11 due to cardiac arrest. He had recently returned from Kyiv, Ukraine, after meeting with President Zelenskyy and was poised to appear on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” the next day. Initial reports indicated Graham’s death resulted from aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Further test results are pending.