Vice President JD Vance praised the late Senator Lindsey Graham at a memorial service, highlighting Graham’s forceful defence of Brett Kavanaugh during his 2018 Supreme Court confirmation hearing. Vance said Kavanaugh would not be on the Court without Graham’s advocacy, presenting the episode as part of Graham’s political legacy despite their disagreements on issues such as US support for Ukraine.

Graham, a South Carolina Republican who served in Congress for more than 30 years, died suddenly at 71, with preliminary findings indicating a likely aortic tear. His memorial events in Washington drew senior US political figures and foreign leaders, reflecting his influence on national-security and foreign-policy debates; he was especially associated with a more interventionist Republican approach abroad.