National political leaders and international figures gathered in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to honor the late South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The senator was first recognized with a ceremony in the Capitol rotunda, where his casket was placed and his colleagues paid tribute. Remarks were delivered by Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Vice President JD Vance, according to the service program. Graham's casket was carried by the South Carolina State Guard caisson detachment.
Graham served more than two decades in the Senate, becoming a prominent Republican figure and a close advisor to President Donald Trump. He was influential in foreign policy matters, including advising on the recent war in Iran, and held a significant role on the Senate's Judiciary Committee.
He died unexpectedly on July 11 at the age of 71. Preliminary findings from the District of Columbia Medical Examiner indicated the cause of death was "aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease."
Later on Tuesday, a funeral service was scheduled at the Washington National Cathedral. President Trump was expected to speak at the service, according to an announcement from Darline Graham, the senator's sister who recently took his seat to complete his term.
The funeral service was anticipated to draw world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, both of whom Graham had closely supported. Graham had recently visited Ukraine and met with President Zelenskyy shortly before his death.
Following the services in Washington, Graham's casket was scheduled to return to South Carolina on Wednesday for further memorial services in Columbia and Pickens County, the area where he grew up and represented.
