U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other officials attend the funeral service for late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) at Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 28, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
President Donald Trump rued the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for getting the "last laugh" against him during his speech at Graham's funeral on Tuesday.
Graham and Trump had a contentious relationship early in Trump's political career, but things seemed to smooth out between them over time. Graham had since become one of Trump's most staunch allies in the Senate and played a considerable role in passing Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" and in confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Even so, Trump shared that it was Graham who had the "last laugh" in their relationship.
"I miss him greatly," Trump said. "As youremember, Lindsey and I did notexactly get off to the best ofstarts running against eachother back in 2016. Lindsey saidsomething rather nasty on hisflight to becoming the nextpresident of the United States. So, naturally, I did somethingthat I shouldn't have done. Ishared his personal cell phonenumber with the millions ofpeople that happened to bewatching that particular day, asI made a speech, a veryimportant speech."
"And I rememberthe number ... Ifanybody wants to give it a shot," Trump added. "His phone exploded. He said, Ihad that number for 20 years.I don't knowwhat he did with it, but itexploded. That was the beginningof a friendship in a way. 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."