Former President Donald Trump eulogized Senator Lindsey Graham as a "force of nature" and "beloved friend" at a funeral service in Washington D.C., recalling their 2016 presidential primary rivalry and the subsequent unexpected friendship.

Trump recounted a moment from that contentious primary campaign when, after Graham insulted him, he retaliated by publicly sharing Graham's personal cell phone number at a rally. "Naturally, I did something that I shouldn’t have done," Trump told attendees at the National Cathedral. "I shared his personal cell phone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching."

He then amused the crowd by recalling Graham's number, stating, "I remember the number (202) 228-0292 if anybody wants to give it a shot." Despite the public fallout, Trump noted that it was Graham who ultimately had the "last laugh." "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," Trump said, highlighting the strong bond that developed between them.

Trump described Graham, who died on July 11, 2026, at age 71 from cardiovascular disease, as someone who could make people laugh and was a significant figure in national and international affairs. He mentioned Graham's reluctance to wake up before 10 a.m. and a humorous anecdote about Graham declining an early morning prayer breakfast invitation. "Tim, if Jesus himself comes back before 10 a.m., I ain’t going," Trump recalled Graham telling Senator Tim Scott.

The former president praised Graham's 23-year tenure in the Senate, noting his rise from a small South Carolina town to a "constant fixture of American politics at the highest level." Trump added that "nothing of consequence happened in this capital without Lindsey Graham knowing about it" and that "nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it."

Graham, a prominent Republican, was known for his often bipartisan work and his close relationship with Trump, frequently joining him for golf or other activities. Trump characterized Graham as a "tough cookie" who, despite political disagreements, was generally well-liked across the aisle.

"He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart until that heart itself just gave out," Trump concluded his tribute.