Trump Says Lindsey Graham ‘Had the Last Laugh’ in Funeral Remarks
Key Takeaways
- •Trump said he missed Lindsey Graham and spoke about their relationship at Graham’s funeral on Tuesday.
- •He said Graham had made harsh remarks about him during the 2016 Republican primary.
- •Trump recalled publicly revealing Graham’s cell phone number during the campaign, which he said caused the senator’s phone to ring heavily.
- •Trump said their conflict later turned into a friendship, and Graham became one of his strongest Senate allies on major priorities.
President Donald Trump delivered remarks at Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) funeral Tuesday, reflecting on their complicated relationship and saying Graham ultimately had the “last laugh.”
“I miss him greatly,” Trump said.
Trump revisited their contentious 2016 Republican primary battle, saying Graham had made “something rather nasty” comments about him. In response, Trump said he publicly shared Graham’s personal cell phone number during a campaign speech, causing the senator’s phone to “explode.”
Despite that rocky start, Trump said the episode was, paradoxically, “the beginning of a friendship in a way,” underscoring how two politicians who once clashed publicly later worked closely in Washington.
Trump said Graham went on to become one of his strongest allies in the Senate, helping with the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
The remarks at Graham’s funeral highlighted a relationship that became a recurring feature of Republican politics over the past decade, moving from intraparty conflict during the 2016 campaign to sustained Senate support on major Trump priorities.
“But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh, because while I blew up his phone, all for one day, we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next ten years,” Trump said.