Funeral Services Held for Controversial Senator Lindsey Graham in Washington and South Carolina
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
The remains of Senator Lindsey Graham, a figure known for enabling right-wing policies, were honored in a Capitol Rotunda ceremony attended by establishment officials, followed by services in Washington National Cathedral and a public procession in South Carolina.
Senator Lindsey Graham, whose career was marked by support for militarism and conservative agendas, was given a high-profile funeral in Washington, D.C. The Capitol Rotunda service, attended by Vice President JD Vance, cabinet members, lawmakers, and Graham’s family, highlighted the deep ties between political elites. Vance, himself a representative of the current rightward shift in government, called Graham a 'true American original,' glossing over Graham’s divisive record and his role in perpetuating inequality and obstruction in the Senate.
Later that morning, Graham's remains were transferred to the Washington National Cathedral, an institution often used to sanctify the legacies of powerful figures regardless of their impact on marginalized communities. There, President Donald J. Trump, whose administration Graham fervently supported, delivered a tribute, further underscoring the alliance between reactionary forces in American politics.
On July 29, a public procession in South Carolina began at the State House, with the State Guard caisson detachment carrying Graham’s remains. A military flyover by an F-16 from the 169th Fighter Wing at 11 a.m. symbolized the glorification of militarism that Graham championed throughout his career. The procession continued to First Baptist Church of Columbia for a service that, while open to the public, reflected the continued veneration of establishment power. Graham was privately buried in Pickens County, closing a chapter on a political life that often prioritized the interests of the few over the many.
The Associated Press contributed to the report.