by Ben Whedon
President Donald Trump on Tuesday eulogized the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., during a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral.
Graham died unexpectedly earlier this month and was replaced by his sister, Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C. His memorial began at the U.S. Capitol, before his remains were transported to the cathedral in northern Washington, D.C.
Speaking at the event, Trump called Graham a “beloved friend,” “respected statesman,” and “a giant of the United States Senate.”
“Yet while he was always quick to laugh, and no one ever doubted the gravity of his mission, above all, Lindsey Graham believed in a strong America. He had unwavering faith in the righteousness of American Power… 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 said.
“It was this conviction that led him to serve 33 years in uniform in the Air Force… and it was this conviction that took him as a Senator to almost every country on earth, confronting America’s adversaries, and standing up for America’s friends…,” Trump said. “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.”
Trump recalled Graham’s rise from his rural South Carolina origins to his career as a nationally recognized statesman and quipped about his interest in foreign affairs.
“Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view on it,” Trump said.
Graham’s remains will next head to South Carolina for a second service and burial, to take place on Wednesday.
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Ben Whedon is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
