JULY 28, 2026
Senator Lindsey Graham Honored in Washington Before Burial in South Carolina as Russia Sanctions Bill Advances
Senator Lindsey Graham, who died at age 71 earlier in July, is being honored in Washington with a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda and a private funeral service at the National Cathedral, before final services in his home state of South Carolina. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are among the world leaders attending the Washington services. The Russia sanctions legislation Graham championed is advancing in the Senate and is expected to face a key procedural vote the same evening as the National Cathedral service.
Graham spent his final days in Ukraine, where on July 10 he announced that he and Senate colleagues had secured the White House's endorsement of a Russia sanctions package. He died the following day. Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker called the sanctions bill Graham's "greatest achievement," and Senate Majority Leader John Thune has scheduled a procedural vote on the legislation for Tuesday evening, hours after the National Cathedral service.
The Russia sanctions package — now to be renamed in Graham's honor at the request of his sister, newly appointed South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham — would impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian officials, and military leaders, with tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian energy. The bill also adds sanctions on ships comprising Russia's "shadow fleet" and gives President Trump a "national interest certification" authority over certain sanction waivers. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who co-authored the bill with Graham, said of the legislation: "It's a big effing deal. We all did well. We all did good" — describing those as among Graham's final words to him. Still, Blumenthal cautioned that the work is not finished: "I hope it passes. We're not there yet."
CNN's coverage centered on Graham's role as an indispensable bridge between hawkish Republican foreign policy and the Trump White House — what Rep. Don Bacon called the "Trump whisperer" function. Multiple lawmakers told CNN that Graham's death leaves a gap in Republican foreign policy that no single senator can fill; Sen. Mark Kelly said it would take at least two people to replace him. Fox News led with the ceremonial and legislative dimensions of the tribute week, framing the imminent Senate vote as the completion of Graham's "final mission" and emphasizing his singular focus on public service throughout his life.