Here’s who’s speaking at Graham’s funeral service
The speakers at Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral service include President Trump, who will give one of the eulogies.
Despite occasional political disagreements, Mr. Trump has called Graham “a great friend” and “one of the greatest people and senators I have ever known.”
Fox News’ Sean Hannity is also slated to give a eulogy, as is Graham’s niece, Emillie Boggs Roberts.
Clergy members taking part in the service include:
- The Very Reverend Randolph Marshall Hollerith — Dean, Washington National Cathedral
- The Reverend Canon Jan Naylor Cope — Provost, Washington National Cathedral
- The Reverend Canon Rosemarie Logan Duncan — Canon Precentor, Washington National Cathedral
- The Reverend Tim Tate — Senior Pastor at Corinth Baptist Church, in Seneca, South Carolina
- The Reverend Dr. Barry C. Black — U.S. Senate Chaplain
Trump says in interview before funeral that Graham “became like a member of the family”
In an interview with Fox News Tuesday morning with “Fox and Friends,” President Trump said that though his relationship with Graham was at first a “little bit rough” — they were both vying for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination — they grew “closer and closer.”
The president said that “it really ended up being a great friendship,” and Graham “really became like a member of the family, in a sense.”
The president also maintained that Graham, despite his hawkishness on Iran, “over the last few weeks, I would say that he became like, ‘It’s better making a deal in this case than just destroying the rest of the country.'”
Graham honored at Capitol ceremony before funeral
At a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Tuesday morning, Graham was remembered by fellow lawmakers as a “towering figure” in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said of Graham, “I feel his absence every day,” and he noted that “senators on both sides of the aisle counted on him as a friend.”
Nathan Howard-Pool / Getty Images
At the Capitol, Graham’s flag-draped casket was carried by U.S. Armed Forces pallbearers to honor his Air Force service, and a U.S. Capitol Police memorial guard stood watch as colleagues and loved ones paid their respects.
Read more here.
Another service for Graham to be held in South Carolina Wednesday
Tuesday’s remembrances of Graham will be followed by services in South Carolina on Wednesday morning, beginning with a procession at the South Carolina State House around 10:45 a.m.
During the funeral procession, Graham’s remains will be carried by members of the South Carolina State Guard, with a presentation of law enforcement and an F-16 flyover. The procession will conclude at the First Baptist Church of Columbia, where a funeral service will be held, followed by a private family burial in Pickens, South Carolina.
