On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, lawmakers, Vice President Vance, Cabinet members, and staff convened at the Capitol Rotunda to honor the late Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.). The day also marked the filing deadline for candidates seeking to replace Graham in the upcoming August special GOP primary ahead of the November general election. Among those entering the race is Graham’s sister, Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), who is currently serving through January 2027.

Meanwhile, President Trump met at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky followed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This meeting with Netanyahu was the first at the White House since before the Iran war began in February 2026. Over the weekend, Zelensky noted that Ukrainian forces attacked a Russian ship in the Caspian Sea that was supporting Iran.

In related developments, the U.S. military has paused its attacks on Iran since Saturday to allow time for negotiations. Despite the Senate being mostly out of session on Tuesday, tensions grew between Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Trump, along with some Republicans, regarding the passage of the SAVE America Act. Some have proposed skipping the August recess to address the legislation, but Thune maintains it currently lacks sufficient support.

Graham’s funeral is scheduled to take place at the Washington National Cathedral.

Sources