Allies to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham will be trying to cement his legacy Tuesday — in public ceremonies, closed-door meetings and with a Senate vote.
Two days of memorial services for Graham begin with a 10 a.m. Capitol Rotunda ceremony, followed by 2 p.m. services at the Washington National Cathedral. Bipartisan senators will attend along with President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Services continue Wednesday at South Carolina’s First Baptist Church of Columbia where Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn will speak, according to his spokesperson, Jami LaRue.
Graham was known as an outspoken defense hawk and a champion of overseas alliances in a Republican party with a growing anti-interventionist wing. His allies will use this week to make an argument his assertive approach to American foreign policy should continue to influence the GOP.
Zelenskyy and Netanyahu — who lost in Graham a powerful Washington ally — will, for example, press officials in closed-door meetings for continued support of their respective military operations.
Zelenskyy is likely to lobby lawmakers to pass one of Graham’s biggest legislative goals: a sanctions measure aiming to pressure Russia’s oil and gas industry. He’ll address a meeting of the full Senate on Capitol Hill today and separately meet with Trump.
Senators later tonight will then take their first vote on the bipartisan legislation, formally named the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is hoping for “a very big, bipartisan vote,” and to fast-track the bill for final passage this week.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, the top Democratic co-sponsor of the bill, told reporters Monday there would be a “strong coalition of bipartisan support” for the legislation despite some Democrats’ fears about a provision allowing Trump to impose tariffs up to 100 percent on countries purchasing significant amounts of Russian oil.
Sen. Ron Wyden, meanwhile, told reporters the only way to fix the bill is getting rid of the tariffs, although he declined to say if he would oppose to fast-tracking the legislation.
The Ukrainian leader also has work to do in courting the anti-interventionalist members of the Republican Party, who have long pressed GOP leadership to cut off U.S. military and economic assistance.
Netanyahu will also meet with Trump and officials Tuesday, and he’ll be eager to remind them of Graham’s outspoken support of Israel amid growing tension between the longtime allies.
The America First wing of the GOP — a foil to Graham’s foreign policy inclinations — are concerned Netanyahu during his visit will push the president into a new, more aggressive phase of the countries’ war with Iran, Megan and Myah Ward report.
What else we’re watching:
— THUNE DEFENDS SUMMER RECESS FROM TRUMP’S DEMANDS: Thune is trying to keep Trump from ruining summer recess. Fixated on the GOP elections bill known as the SAVE America Act, Trump is ramping up pressure on Thune and GOP senators and going after one of the most sacrosanct elements of the congressional calendar — the August recess — to try to force Republicans’ hands.
— CORNYN DETAILS LATEST DEMAND FOR BLANCHE VOTE: Sen. John Cornyn on Monday said he won’t support Trump’s attorney general pick without a written modification to the tax settlement agreement Trump entered into with his own administration. Opposition from the Texas Republican could sink Todd Blanche’s nomination in a highly anticipated Judiciary vote scheduled for Thursday.
Jordain Carney and Chris Marquette contributed to this report.
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