President Donald Trump paid tribute to his friend, the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), with jokes, anecdotes, and a touching reflection on his decadeslong career.
“Today we gather with the deepest gratitude, profoundest sorrow, to honor a beloved friend, a devoted brother, a respected statesman, a giant of the United States Senate, and a true American original who left us much too soon, and that can only be the one and only Lindsey Graham,” Trump said.
Many of Washington’s top lawmakers gathered on Tuesday for Graham’s funeral, including Vice President JD Vance, who also called him an “American original” in his eulogy.
Throughout the speech, Trump alternated between lighthearted moments and tense moments in their relationship. Trump even jokingly reiterated Graham’s phone number during his speech, referencing a previous moment when he shared the late senator’s number during their battle for the presidency in 2015.
“I did something that I shouldn’t have done,” said Trump. “I shared his personal cell phone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching that particular day. As I made a speech, a very important speech, and I remember the number 202-228-0292. If anybody wants to give it a shot, his phone exploded.
“He said, ‘I had that number for 20 years.’ His phone totally — I don’t know what he did with it — but it exploded,” Trump said. “That was the beginning of a friendship, in a way. But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh because while I blew up his phone for one day, we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years. It was not easy.”
The funeral service came mere hours after Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky separately at the White House.
Graham, one of the Senate’s most tenacious war hawks, was a strong supporter of Ukraine’s battle against Russia and the U.S. backing of Israel, even if it meant clashing with members of the Trump administration who prioritized an America First approach.
“He had unwavering faith in the righteousness of American power and prayer. He was extremely hawkish,” Trump said about Graham’s background. “I will 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. He felt in his bones that our destiny is to win, and that his job was to do everything he could to ensure our enemies would lose.”
The president also alluded to Graham’s foreign policy with his comments about the world leaders, including Zelensky and Netanyahu, who also gathered for the funeral. “He had tremendous friendships all over the world,” Trump recalled. “It’s a testament to his towering impact that among those mourning him here today are leaders, presidents, prime ministers from all over the globe, sitting right here before you.”
Trump’s meetings with the two leaders earlier were held behind closed doors away from the prying eyes of the press. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on social media that “Both meetings were positive and productive!”
Zelensky also claimed to have had a productive meeting with Trump before meeting with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
“The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” Zelensky wrote. “We also spoke about diplomacy – it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated. Our teams will arrange the details of their further communication. I am grateful to the United States for its firm support.”
Trump’s relationship with Zelensky appears to be improving after a disastrous showdown in the Oval Office in February 2025. The two met at the NATO conference in Ankara, Turkey, earlier this month. “We’ve actually developed a good relationship. It’s hard to believe,” Trump said during a press conference with the Ukrainian leader then.
But Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu has hit a rough patch as the Iran war has dragged on. Five months to the exact date the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, Netanyahu descended in Washington with less security in his relationship with the president.
During an early morning appearance on Fox & Friends, Trump batted down reports that the Israeli prime minister would give him new information about increased activity at the alleged Iranian nuclear site, Pickaxe.
“I don’t need Bibi to tell me that,” said Trump. “Bibi is telling me that because he wants me to stay involved.”
VANCE REMEMBERS LINDSEY GRAHAM AS ‘A TRUE AMERICAN ORIGINAL’
Netanyahu downplayed any tensions during his comments after the meeting.
“I just finished an excellent meeting with President Trump,” he said. “A conversation with full partnership and mutual support, with an understanding of a shared goal, to ensure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons, and other goals as well. One of the best conversations I have had with the President of the United States. It was an opportunity to exchange ideas and coordinate arrangements that are important for the security and future of the State of Israel.”