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The Situation Room

Memorial Service Held For Lindsey Graham. Aired 10:30a-11a ET

Aired July 28, 2026 - 10:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[10:30:00]

J.D. VANCE, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And, of course, I found out weeks later from another Senate colleague that the fiercest advocate of that bill behind the scenes was Senator Lindsey Graham.

Now, Lindsey was who he was, and I knew that Lindsey couldn't even pretend to care about rail policy. It was something I really cared about, but it wasn't something Lindsey was particularly focused on. And so I went to Lindsey and I said: "Why are you helping me? Why are you helping this legislation?"

I expected him to do what so many politicians would do. I expected him to lie and say: "Well, I really care about rail legislation."

And he said: "Oh, I don't care about that at all."

I said: "Well, why are you helping me?"

And he said: "Well, I don't care about it, but you do."

And that was the kind of colleague he could be, a person you argued with and fought with in one minute, but behind the scenes, without collecting an ounce of credit, was working for you and working for the things that you cared about in the next. That was who Lindsey Graham was.

Before I knew Lindsey, one of the most enduring parts of his legacy is I do believe that Justice Kavanaugh would not be on the Supreme Court were it not for his fierce advocacy during a critical moment. Remember that Senate confirmation hearing where Lindsey -- and, by the way, he got criticism from the Republican side of the aisle for this.

He would always vote for qualified Democrat judicial nominations. He came to the judicial nomination process in a spirit of bipartisanship. Again, he was criticized sometimes from our side of the aisle for that.

But what he saw happening to Kavanaugh was not a policy disagreement. It was character assassination. And Lindsey got as fiery and as passionate as I have ever seen a human being get during a judicial confirmation, and I believe that he saved that nomination.

Now, that moment, of course, went viral, but Lindsey didn't do it for social media clicks. He did it to do something at the very highest part of the Senate, which was to persuade his colleagues. And persuade his colleagues, he did.

I remember there were a few people who were waffling at that moment, a few people who were unsure what they were going to do. Lindsey didn't just earn a lot of headlines. He actually persuaded people. And that maybe is how I will choose most to remember my friend Lindsey Graham.

He saw that the Senate, at its very worst, could be a venue for character assassination. But because he loved people, he saw that the Senate at its very best could be a deliberative body geared towards persuading people.

And that's what Lindsey Graham did in that case and in so many others. So I choose to remember Lindsey Graham as a man who could disagree with you without being disagreeable. I choose to remember Lindsey Graham as a person who could fight with you on one issue, but fight for you on another issue.

I remember Lindsey Graham as a man who loved people. And because he loved people, he was willing to reason with them, to respect them, and ultimately to persuade them.

May God comfort all of those who loved Lindsey Graham, particularly his beautiful family. And may God rest the soul of Senator Lindsey Graham, a true American original.

(SINGING)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: As you hear now, the United States Air Force Band is performing in recognition of Lindsey Graham's years of service in the Air Force and in the Air Force Reserves.

The late Republican senator was an active duty Air Force lawyer for more than six years before moving to the South Carolina Air National Guard and later to the Air Force Reserves. He retired from the Reserves in 2015 with the rank of colonel.

I want to be back in CNN's Manu Raju.

And, Manu, we heard there from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Vice President J.D. Vance and Congresswoman Sheri Biggs from South Carolina. And there were some common themes in these speeches about Lindsey Graham's sense of humor, about his devotion, dedication to passions he cared about no matter how popular they were, and his ability to reach across the aisle and work with those who he disagreed with.

What stood out to you, Manu?

MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and talking about him being the savvy political operator that he very much was and being able to both work behind the scenes, battle behind the scenes, battle publicly and work in a way in which even the people that he battled with in the most intense ways, he was able to look past that and find other areas of agreement.

[10:35:19] I very much remember when he and J.D. Vance were battling over the issue of Ukraine. Those are two members who had, while J.D. Vance was senator, espoused a view on Ukraine diametrically opposed to Lindsey Graham, but very -- Graham recognizing that he needs allies and recognizing that this is a business about relationships, later working with him on a separate piece of legislation.

That was a common theme throughout not only the speeches, but also Graham's career, knowing that this is a place where relationships matter so much, relationships not just with across the aisle, but also internationally.

And Lindsey Graham, as John Thune was remembering, on all their foreign trips that they took over the years, someone who's able to connect with key foreign leaders in a way that other members simply could not do, simply because of his personality, because of the way he was brought up.

There was a remembrance too of just how those humble -- the humble upbringing of Lindsey Graham. Remember, he lost his parents at a very young age, and he was essentially raised in a bar and had to adopt his younger sister, Darline, as he went to join the armed forces with the Air Force so she could get his medical benefits.

And he is someone who did not have was -- things were not handed to him. He worked his way up, made his -- he learned how to have that kind of personality where he could connect with people and used that so effectively in politics.

And that was what was the theme throughout this morning's ceremony, and I expect that to be the theme this afternoon when he's remembered at the National Cathedral -- guys.

BROWN: All right, Manu Raju, thank you.

And the song "Shenandoah" has wrapped up. Now there will be the presentation of the wreaths. Let's listen.

(MUSIC)

[10:40:00]

(MUSIC)

BARRY BLACK, U.S. SENATE CHAPLAIN: Let us pray.

Our father in heaven, we thank you for the inspiration of life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham. We proclaim your generosity to this nation and world by giving us the gift of someone who sought to leave the world better than he found it.

Inspired by his great life, teach us all to see you more clearly, to love you more dearly, and to follow you more nearly each day. Continue to bless and keep us. Make your face shine upon us and be gracious unto us. Lift the light of your countenance upon us and give us your shalom, your wholeness, your peace. We pray in the name of the prince of peace.

[10:45:00]

Amen.

(MUSIC)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: A very, very moving memorial service in the Capitol Rotunda for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who was beloved by so many, not just fellow Republicans, but Democrats as well.

Isaac, you're still with us as well.

What are you thinking as you see this? Senator Schumer and other Republicans. I saw Adam Schiff there and others remembering Lindsey Graham for his support and his positions on so many key issues.

EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE, CNN SENIOR REPORTER: And I think it goes back to something I was saying earlier, which is that, of the 100 senators that are serving right now, I'm not sure that any of them would have gotten this kind of a service and this kind of attendance and the emotions that are coming out, whether from the eulogies or that you can see on the faces of the people there.

It's really a testament to this figure that Graham was that was unique in the Senate and unique in this moment for our politics, where he crossed the lines between what has become the traditional Republican and Democratic camps and how he was able to navigate disagreeing with each other -- disagreeing with some of his colleagues and others so much on policy sometimes, but yet having a really strong personal relationship.

[10:50:02]

BLITZER: And this is just the first of two major memorial services for Lindsey Graham here in Washington today.

From here, the casket will be driven over to the National Cathedral in Washington for another memorial service. And President Trump will be speaking there, and others will be speaking there. And it, I think, underscores his international reputation that the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the president of Ukraine, President Zelenskyy, are both in Washington in large part in order to pay their respects to Lindsey Graham and his support for their respective countries.

DOVERE: Yes, you don't see many people in the Republican Party who would be comfortable and be honored in this way by both Zelenskyy and Netanyahu or people in the Democratic Party.

Again, it is about Graham himself and how distinct he was. And, look, this relationship that he has with Donald Trump -- that he had with Donald Trump is itself so strange. It goes back, remember, when they were running against each other in 2016. At one point, Trump gave out Lindsey Graham's cell phone number so that people would harass him. But then it built into this very close relationship where Graham was an adviser in so many ways, and to a lot of people almost not just the Trump whisperer, but the Trump translator, in ways that shifted U.S. policy and shifted what was going on in the White House and shifted what was going on in Congress.

BLITZER: And we see these members of the Senate and the House stepping forward, paying their respects as this casket lies in state, draped with the American flag. And it's going to be a very, very moving day all around, especially for those of us who got to know him.

I got to know him over the years. He was a frequent guest on my show here on CNN, and we occasionally would even have dinner. And it was -- what we just heard from some of the leadership there is so, so true. He had a great sense of humor too.

DOVERE: Yes, it was rare even catching him in the hallway in the Senate for a momentary interview for him to not find some way to get a lighthearted moment out of it.

He -- that is less and less part of our politics, part of the political conversation, but it is definitely, as all of the speakers at the funeral have testified to and others in remembering him, part of what made him successful, is that he was not being pulled into where necessarily politics of 2026 is, but was bringing some of what the United States Senate and politics was from times past and finding ways to adapt it to our current moment.

BLITZER: And after the memorial service in the Washington National Cathedral, his casket will then be flown to South Carolina. That's where the burial will take place tomorrow.

DOVERE: Right.

And, like, that's -- Lindsey Graham served South Carolina for decades, first in the House and then in the Senate. He -- I'm sure he would have been welcomed if the family had wanted him to be buried in Arlington. He certainly qualifies in all the ways for that.

But to be brought home to his beloved South Carolina, it was -- makes a lot of sense for him. And all of this, of course, remember it's just been less than three weeks since his sudden death, everybody trying to process what this means and how it would go, but that it all comes together in this way is really striking.

BLITZER: Seventy-one years old, and it was so sudden. None of us expected that Lindsey Graham, 71 years old, would pass away the way he did.

DOVERE: No, none of -- he was in Ukraine literally the day before he died doing some of this diplomacy, trying -- and then also trying to carry that forward to this sanctions bill that is going to be voted on in the Senate today in his honor.

He himself, he wasn't sick. Obviously, he had the heart condition that led to this, but he did not feel sick until just the day that he died. And it killed him immediately almost.

BROWN: Yes.

And we have seen today his sister, Darline, who is temporarily filling his seat. They had a very close relationship. She was his younger sister. I'm curious how you anticipate she will carry on his legacy in this role.

DOVERE: Well, we just don't know. Like, she was never somebody who was in politics. This was not her path to -- that she was on until the day that he died, and then there was the conversation that started about whether she would be appointed to the seat.

She was, and then there was a conversation of whether she would run for the seat, because, as it happens, the seat is up for reelection this year. Graham was running for reelection. She's now said that she will be running.

But we don't know enough about her as a senator to know what kind of a senator she will be. It's not anything positive or negative about her. She's just been a senator for two weeks. So we don't know how much she will be acting sort of in trying to continue her brother's legacy, versus trying to stake out her own ground. And maybe it'll take some time to see that.

BLITZER: President Trump has already endorsed her.

[10:55:00]

DOVERE: Yes. And that doesn't mean that she has a free ride.

There is a competitive primary in South Carolina, it seems like, for -- it's a special election primary for the Republican nomination, and then there's a Democrat running for the seat. So we'll see how this all goes.

BROWN: And it's worth noting you heard President Trump this morning saying that Lindsey Graham loved war.

DOVERE: Yes.

BROWN: He never saw a war he didn't like.

But Darline has said that he saw war as a means to get to peace...

DOVERE: Right.

BROWN: ... that it's not that he loved war, but that he wanted to eventually get to peace. That's how she framed it.

And it will be interesting to hear more from her and watch her as she tries to carry on his legacy and create her own there in the Senate. So we will continue to monitor this.

As Wolf noted, later today, at the National Cathedral, there will be another service, where President Trump will deliver a tribute to the late Senator Graham.

BLITZER: And now we see the guests, mostly members of Congress and their families, walking around the casket of Lindsey Graham, paying their final, final respects to this late senator, who was beloved by just -- not just by Republicans, by Democrats as well, because of his involvement in all sorts of critically important issues.

And we're going to continue our special coverage. This casket will move on to the National Cathedral here in Washington, and we'll watch all of this unfold. We'll hear what the president of the United States has to say at the National Cathedral. We'll hear other speakers as well, a very moving memorial service, including music and prayers and tributes.

And we'll just wrap up this hour with my special words that I always say. May he rest in peace. May his memory be a blessing, or, as we say in Hebrew, zichrono livracha.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)