The casket of the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) lies in state during a memorial tribute in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 28, 2026. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Lawmakers and dignitaries paid tribute to former Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) with speakers praising him as a selfless and a patriotic American.

Graham lay in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on July 28 as mourners gathered to remember the longtime member of Congress. He was in a coffin covered by the American flag. His casket was carried by American service members in tribute to Graham’s military service.

Graham died at the age of 71 on the evening of July 11 from a suspected aortic rupture.

At the ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, Rep. Sherri Biggs (R-S.C.) said Graham was more than a member of Congress.

“When people talk about Lindsey Graham, they often talk about the titles he has held—the congressman, the senator, the chairman, the colonel—but titles only tell a small part of the story,” she said. “To truly understand Lindsey, you have to understand his deep love for South Carolina and his family, and his belief that public service is a responsibility, not simply a position.

“To say he loved South Carolina is an understatement.”

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) noted Graham was respected by members of both major political parties.

“Senators on both sides of the aisle counted him as a friend,” he said.

“Lindsey was a towering figure here in the Senate and on the international stage,” Thune added. “His leadership on national security and our national defense is well known.”

Thune said that while Graham “will be remembered as a senator and as a statesman … I will remember him as my friend.”

Vice President JD Vance, who served with Graham in the Senate, said Graham “loved people from all walks of life.”

Following the service at the U.S. Capitol, there will be a funeral service for Graham at the Washington National Cathedral. Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are scheduled to attend. A funeral and burial for Graham will be conducted on July 29 in South Carolina.

Graham was first elected to Congress in 1994 and served in the House of Representatives between 1995 and 2003. He served in the Senate from 2003 until his death.

Graham was known as a close ally of Trump, especially during the president’s second term. While he initially cut ties with the president following the Jan. 6, 2021, protests at the U.S. Capitol, he soon went back to supporting him.

Known as a hawk on foreign policy, Graham supported military action against Iran in seeking to block the country from obtaining nuclear weapons. He was also tough on Russia, authoring a sanctions bill that the Senate is expected to take up this week. The bill is named after him.

Graham was chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was appointed by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to finish her brother’s term, which ends on Jan. 3, 2027. Nordone announced she would run for a full six-year term. She has been endorsed by Trump.We had a problem loading this article. Please enable javascript or use a different browser. If the issue persists, please visit our help center.