Senator Lindsey Graham's State Funeral Draws Netanyahu and Zelenskyy to Washington
Two days of memorial services for the late South Carolina senator will start in Washington, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending and meeting Donald Trump at the White House.
Funeral rites for the deceased South Carolina Republican senator will unfold over two days, starting with a Capitol Hill service and a procession to the Washington National Cathedral, where Donald Trump will address the crowd. Graham, who served eight years in the House and 23 in the Senate and was a former Air Force lawyer, died of a heart condition shortly after a Kyiv visit focused on a new Russia sanctions proposal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are expected to attend the Washington events and then meet Trump at the White House. On Wednesday, South Carolina will host an F-16 flyover at the state house in Columbia, a public service at First Baptist Church, and a private interment in Pickens County, the hometown of Graham and his sister Darline. Released one outlet's footage showed Graham praising the Iran strike and expressing strong support for Netanyahu and Trump. The gatherings underscore Graham's prominent role in shaping U.S. foreign policy toward Iran, Israel and Ukraine.
Why it matters
The funeral brings together top U.S. and foreign leaders, highlighting Graham's influence on American foreign policy and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTAll camps report the attendance of world leaders and Trump’s tribute, but left-leaning coverage focuses on conspiracy rumors and criticism of Trump’s behavior, centrist coverage presents a neutral, celebratory account, and right-leaning coverage emphasizes Graham’s foreign-policy legacy and praises Trump’s eulogy.
LEFT
Left-leaning coverage frames the funeral as a stage for false conspiracy claims and mockery of Trump’s conduct.
CENTER
Center coverage frames the event as a dignified tribute highlighting Graham’s service and the presence of global leaders.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames Graham as a stalwart foreign-policy hawk and celebrates Trump’s heartfelt eulogy, while casting the ceremony as a showcase of political influence.
The left emphasises
- false claims spurred on social media
- Trump appears to fall asleep during the funeral
- Hannity’s bizarre claim about Graham’s heaven
The right emphasises
- Graham as a steadfast advocate for Middle East peace
- Trump reminisces about the 2016 phone-number gag
- Washington’s unseemly celebration of Lindsey Graham
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