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See the full story · 8 sourcesPresident Donald Trump is expected to deliver remarks at the cathedral, alongside Fox News' Sean Hannity and other conservative leaders
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Washington is preparing to bid farewell to Sen. Lindsey Graham on Tuesday with a day of high-profile tributes honoring the Republican powerbroker whose sudden death stunned the political world.
Graham, who died July 11 at his Washington home at 71 from what officials said was likely an aortic tear, will be remembered in ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol and Washington National Cathedral attended by presidents, world leaders and political allies from across the globe.
His casket will arrive at the Capitol, where Graham spent more than three decades building a reputation as one of the Senate's most influential dealmakers. An Armed Forces Body Bearer Team will carry his remains into the Capitol Rotunda in recognition of his Air Force service, while Vice President JD Vance is expected to deliver remarks.
"For so many of us in the Senate and the House, myself included, Lindsey was more than a colleague; he was a friend," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.
Later Tuesday, Washington National Cathedral will host Graham's funeral, drawing some of the biggest names in American and international politics.
President Donald Trump is expected to speak, joined by Fox News host Sean Hannity and other conservative leaders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are also expected to attend, underscoring Graham's outsized influence on U.S. foreign policy.
Born into modest circumstances in South Carolina, Graham became one of the most recognizable figures in Washington after first winning election to Congress during the Republican Revolution of 1994. He went on to play a prominent role in President Bill Clinton's impeachment before winning a Senate seat in 2002.
Alongside the late Sen. John McCain and former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Graham became one of Congress' most outspoken advocates for an aggressive U.S. role overseas, earning a reputation as a leading voice on national security.
Few political relationships were more dramatic than Graham's alliance with Trump.
During the 2016 Republican primary, Graham dismissed Trump as a "kook" and "unfit for office." But after Trump entered the White House, Graham transformed into one of the president's closest allies and most trusted advisers.
The relationship briefly collapsed after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, when Graham declared on the Senate floor, "Count me out. Enough is enough."
Within weeks, however, Trump invited Graham to Mar-a-Lago, repairing their alliance. Graham would later become one of the president's closest confidants on Capitol Hill, earning the nickname "the Trump whisperer" from Sen. Adam Schiff.
Just days before his death, Graham secured Trump's backing for a bipartisan sanctions package targeting Russia over its war in Ukraine, one of the toughest congressional efforts to increase pressure on President Vladimir Putin. Senators are expected to hold an initial procedural vote on the legislation Tuesday in tribute to Graham, while Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with lawmakers later in the day.
Graham's funeral will also feature prominent evangelical and anti-abortion leaders, including Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser and the Rev. Franklin Graham.
A lifelong bachelor, Graham became the guardian of his younger sister, Darline Graham, after both of their parents died while he was in college. He frequently credited Social Security with helping his family survive during that difficult period.
Following his death, South Carolina's governor appointed Darline Graham to temporarily fill his Senate seat. She is also expected to seek the seat in this fall's election.
Outside politics, Graham served for decades in the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard as a judge advocate, briefly returning to active duty during the Iraq War. He retired as a colonel in 2015 after receiving a Bronze Star.
Following Tuesday's ceremonies in Washington, Graham will be buried Wednesday in his home state of South Carolina.
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