Trump Meets Netanyahu and Zelenskyy at Graham Funeral Amid Iran, Ukraine Wars

Washington paused Tuesday to mark the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican whose death at 71 has drawn foreign leaders and top officials to ceremonies honoring his decades in public life. The senator’s casket arrived at the Capitol Rotunda for a private morning service, carried by an Armed Forces Body Bearer team in recognition of his Air Force service. A U.S. Capitol Police memorial guard stood watch during the brief event, which Senate Majority Leader John Thune described as a fitting tribute to Graham’s time representing South Carolinians in Congress.

From there, the remains moved to Washington National Cathedral for a 2 p.m. funeral service where President Trump delivered the main tribute. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended alongside cabinet members, lawmakers and military figures. Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham, appointed to complete his term, was also present. The events were livestreamed, with additional services set for South Carolina on Wednesday, including a public funeral at First Baptist Church of Columbia and burial in Pickens County.

Graham died July 11 of an aortic dissection linked to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, shortly after returning from a trip to Ukraine where he met Zelenskyy and discussed new sanctions and tariffs on Russia. A longtime foreign policy voice, he had visited Ukraine multiple times since 2022 and backed assertive U.S. roles in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East. His evolution from 2016 critic of Trump to close ally on defense matters drew notice, though his consistent push for stronger involvement overseas remained unchanged.

The timing of the gatherings coincides with fresh strains in two distant conflicts. Ukraine reported striking vessels carrying Iranian-linked military cargo in the Caspian Sea, prompting Iran to summon a Ukrainian diplomat and warn of retaliation. Iranian officials described the target as a commercial vessel and vowed a response. The episode follows months of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February, a ceasefire that later collapsed, and recent pauses in American airstrikes to allow diplomatic efforts.

Zelenskyy, who arrived seeking anti-ballistic missiles and renewed strategic talks, has seen recent battlefield gains but continues to press for more support. Netanyahu, here for his first in-person meeting with Trump since tensions over Iran policy surfaced, faces questions about coordination after an earlier reported phone exchange turned heated. Both leaders view Graham as a reliable advocate for their security needs, yet the senator’s death leaves his sanctions legislation and broader legislative efforts in the hands of colleagues.

Critics of expansive American commitments abroad have long warned that separate fights in Ukraine and the Middle East risk drawing the United States into overlapping obligations across continents. Graham’s record reflected the opposite view, favoring direct pressure on adversaries and sustained aid to partners. Tuesday’s ceremonies brought together figures who share that outlook even as evidence mounts that actions in one theater can quickly affect another. The senator’s final trip to Kyiv and the legislation he advanced there underscore how his priorities centered on maintaining U.S. leverage far from American shores.