Washington will bid farewell to one of its most prominent foreign policy voices Tuesday as President Donald Trump, international leaders, and members of Congress pay respects to Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who died unexpectedly this month at 71.
The two-day tribute begins at the Capitol, where Graham's casket will lie in state in the rotunda. A brief ceremony starting around 10 a.m. ET will honor both his Air Force service spanning more than three decades and his congressional career. The Capitol rotunda ceremony, though private, will be livestreamed for the public.
Graham's casket will then travel to Washington National Cathedral for an invitation-only funeral service at 2 p.m. ET, also to be streamed online. Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks. Cabinet members, military leaders, and congressional figures will attend, alongside global leaders who worked closely with Graham on defense and security matters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to be present.
Graham's sister, Darline Graham, now a senator herself after being sworn in to fill his seat this month, will participate in the ceremonies. She has announced plans to run for a full term in an August 11 primary.
The observances continue Wednesday in South Carolina. Graham's casket will travel via horse-drawn caisson through the state, followed by an F-16 flyover honoring his military legacy. A public funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of Columbia, followed by a private family burial in Pickens County, where Graham was born.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "Graham's death struck Washington hard, and the breadth of who's showing up Tuesday tells you how much reach he had across parties and continents."
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