Donald Trump falls asleep during Lindsey Graham funeral eulogy

Donald Trump fell asleep during a memorial eulogy for US Senator Lindsey Graham, nodding off as attendees at the Washington National Cathedral observed tributes to the late lawmaker, according to reporting by The Mirror. The somber gathering in Washington DC followed a packed day of diplomacy that included closed-door White House talks with foreign leaders and congressional honors.

According to The Mirror, the US president struggled to stay awake during the memorial service, blinking slowly as his eyes closed. Earlier in the service, Trump delivered his own remarks honoring the late senator as a giant of the United States Senate and a true American original. Yet the president also veered off script while discussing how widely liked the lawmaker had been.

Media additions

"Well, not everybody. But it sounds good. He was a tough cookie. I have to be honest. I have to veer from this for a second."

Donald Trump, US President, via The Mirror

Graham died suddenly at home in Washington from an aortic dissection, according to The Mirror and Daily Sabah. He served in Washington for more than thirty years, emerging as a prominent foreign policy voice and a close national security adviser to the president. Fox News host Sean Hannity also delivered a eulogy, joking that Graham had likely already added a grand ballroom and a heavenly version of Mar-a-Lago to his quarters in the afterlife to duplicate his dearest friend in life, as reported by The Mirror.

The memorial service brought together figures from disparate geopolitical conflicts. Before heading to the cathedral, Trump hosted both Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Benjamin Netanyahu for separate, closed-door meetings in the Oval Office. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized both sessions as positive and productive on social media. Netanyahu later described his ninety-minute discussion with the American leader as one of the best conversations he had ever experienced with a US president, focusing heavily on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, according to The Mirror. Outside the White House, demonstrators gathered with Palestinian flags and placards to protest US policy in the Middle East.

Simultaneously, Zelenskyy pressed for fortified military cooperation as the war with Russia enters its fifth year. According to Daily Sabah and The Nightly, the Ukrainian leader followed up on a recent NATO summit commitment regarding a license for domestic production of Patriot missile interceptors, which remain critical for downing ballistic missiles. The Nightly noted that the visit offered a chance to mend relations that had previously faced friction, even as lawmakers scrutinized a Pentagon disclosure regarding delayed disbursement of authorized military assistance.

Ahead of the Oval Office meetings, Zelenskyy warned that Russia had been capturing satellite imagery of US military facilities in the Gulf region and passing the data to Iran to help direct strikes, though Trump downplayed the potential impact to reporters on Air Force One, telling Daily Sabah that he did not think it was happening at a high level or with much impact.

Diplomatic and Memorial Timeline

• Oval Office Meetings: Trump meets separately behind closed doors with Zelenskyy and Netanyahu to discuss defense production, regional security, and diplomacy.
• Capitol Rotunda Tribute: Vice President JD Vance and Senate leaders deliver remarks and present wreaths during congressional honors for the late senator.
• National Cathedral Funeral: Dignitaries gather for the main memorial service where Trump delivers a eulogy and is later seen dozing off.
• Senate Consultations: Zelenskyy plans to meet with senators on Capitol Hill to discuss pending legislative priorities.

Bipartisan congressional leadership aims to advance a sanctions package championed by Graham that targets purchasers of Russian oil and gas, serving as a primary legislative tribute to the late senator, according to Daily Sabah and The Nightly. Meanwhile, the casket is scheduled to be transported to South Carolina, where final burial services will take place at the First Baptist Church of Columbia, and the Joint Base Charleston air base is set to be renamed in his honor, as reported by The Mirror.