Trump Pays Tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham on Fox & Friends

Key Takeaways

President Trump paid tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham during a Fox & Friends appearance on July 28, 2026 .

Trump described Graham as 'a great guy' and 'a great politician,' saying the friendship was hard to lose.

The two men had a famously rocky start during the 2015-2016 Republican primaries before becoming close allies.

Graham served as U.S.

Senator from South Carolina since 2003 , known for his national security focus.

Trump and Graham cooperated on foreign policy and judicial nominations during Trump's first term in office.

A friendship forged through political fire ended with grief. President Donald J. Trump remembered Senator Lindsey Graham on Fox & Friends on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, calling the South Carolina Republican 'a great guy' and 'a great politician' in remarks that laid bare how much the two men's bond had grown over the years.

Trump recalled the arc of their relationship with characteristic candour: 'We started a little bit rough, but then it got closer and closer. It really ended up being a great friendship, and it's very hard.' The words were spare, but the weight behind them was not.

From Primary Rivals to Close Allies

The rough start Trump referenced traces back to the 2015-2016 Republican presidential primaries, when Graham — then a presidential candidate himself — was among the sharpest critics of Trump's candidacy. Graham's language at the time was pointed and public. Yet after Trump secured the nomination and eventually the presidency, the two men found common ground on foreign policy, judicial nominations, and the broader direction of the Republican Party. Graham became one of the Senate's most visible Trump allies, a pivot that defined the latter half of his Senate career.

Graham's Senate Legacy

Lindsey Graham served as U.S. Senator from South Carolina from 2003, building a reputation as a hawkish voice on national security and a fixture of Senate Armed Services deliberations. His willingness to work across administrations — and his eventual alignment with Trump — made him one of the more consequential Republican figures of his era. Trump's tribute on national television underscores how central Graham had become to the former president's inner circle. When a president pauses a morning television appearance to mourn a senator in personal terms — 'it's very hard' — the political becomes deeply human. That, in the end, may be the most telling detail of all.

Point of View

Graham's passing removes one of its most experienced national-security voices at a consequential moment.

NationPress

28 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Trump say about Lindsey Graham on Fox & Friends?

Trump called Graham 'a great guy' and 'a great politician,' saying their relationship started rough but grew into a great friendship, adding 'it's very hard.'

When did Trump pay tribute to Lindsey Graham?

Trump's tribute aired on Fox & Friends on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 .

What was the Trump-Graham relationship like?

The two were rivals during the 2015-2016 Republican primaries but became close allies after Trump won the presidency, cooperating on foreign policy and judicial nominations.

How long was Lindsey Graham a U.S. Senator?

Lindsey Graham served as U.S. Senator from South Carolina from 2003 , making him one of the Senate's longer-serving Republican members.

Why was Lindsey Graham significant in Republican politics?

Graham was a prominent voice on national security and Senate Armed Services matters, and his alignment with Trump made him one of the most influential Republican senators of his era.