D.C. bids farewell to Lindsey Graham; Trump meets with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy
Catch up with NBC News Clone on today's hot topic: Rcrd117983 - Politics and Government | NBC News Clone. Our editorial team reformatted this story for clarity and speed.
The president delivered remarks at Graham’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral.
What to know today
- GRAHAM FUNERAL: President Donald Trump, congressional colleagues and world leaders paid their respects today to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Trump delivered a tribute to Graham at a funeral service at Washington National Cathedral this afternoon. Lawmakers and Cabinet officials also attended a special ceremony for Graham at the Capitol this morning.
- WORLD LEADERS VISIT: Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House earlier today.
- INTEL CHIEF CONFIRMATION: The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton’s nomination to be Trump’s director of national intelligence tonight. Clayton will replace Bill Pulte, a close Trump ally and former top housing official who has been serving as acting intelligence chief.
Coverage of this live blog has ended. For the latest news, click here.
James Comey legal team argues DOJ’s seashells case erodes ‘bedrock’ principles
Allowing the seashells-based prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey to move forward would erode core constitutional rights protecting free speech, Comey’s legal team told a federal judge in North Carolina today.
Today, members of Comey’s eight-person legal team filed a motion asking a judge to toss the seashells case, saying it is “not based on a good-faith application of the law to the facts; instead, it effectuates a yearslong campaign by the President to use the criminal process to punish Mr. Comey for his protected speech and because of the President’s deep-seated animosity.”
The Trump-driven case must be cast aside “under two bedrock legal doctrines,” they said: that the case was instigated based on Comey’s protected speech and that the government engaged in selective prosecution.
“Dismissal of federal criminal charges under these doctrines has historically been rare. That is because for decades the DOJ’s independence and integrity have guarded against the use of the criminal process to punish enemies or settle political scores,” they wrote. “The prosecutions of Mr. Comey mark a sharp break from that tradition.”
Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn $83.3 million award in E. Jean Carroll defamation case
Trump is again asking the Supreme Court to intervene in his yearslong legal battle with writer E. Jean Carroll, this time arguing that he should not have to pay an $83.3 million jury award on the grounds of presidential immunity.
Lawyers for Trump urged the high court to review the case and consider overturning the jury’s ruling in 2024 that found he defamed Carroll after he repeatedly denied that he sexually abused her in a dressing room in 1996.
“This is the first case in our Nation’s history in which a court has imposed damages liability on a President for his conduct in office,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in the filing, calling the $83.3 million award “exorbitant.”
“If left standing, the decision below will cause significant damage, not only to this President and future Presidents, but also to ‘the Nation that the Presidency was designed to serve,’” they wrote.
Andy Beshear says he hasn't heard back from Mitch McConnell about his condition
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said tonight that he hasn't heard back from Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., regarding Beshear’s demands for McConnell to update the public on the status of his health.
Beshear said in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that he didn’t know when he was asked whether the photos McConnell’s office has released of him are “an accurate portrayal of his condition.”
“It’s stoked even more speculation that’s out there,” Beshear said.
McConnell's office released a new photo and a statement yesterday in which McConnell said he's not ready to return to work following his June 14 hospitalization.
Beshear reiterated his calls for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to ensure McConnell has “the capacity to serve.” Thune told NBC News earlier today that it was an issue “between Sen. McConnell and the people of Kentucky.”
Beshear pushed back against the idea that Thune could eschew responsibility, suggesting that he is avoiding a situation in which he would have a duty to expel McConnell should he not be able to serve.
“You only have a vacancy in the Senate if one of three things happens: you have a death, you have a letter of resignation or the Senate moves to ultimately expel you, and that third part is what he has a duty to do if Sen. McConnell is not capable,” Beshear said. “The majority leader of the Senate saying he’s not even going to check on one of his Republican senators to make sure he can do his job — that is shameful.”
Incumbent Larry Rhoden wins the Republican primary runoff for South Dakota governor, NBC News projects
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has won his Republican primary, NBC News projects, after he was forced into a runoff in his bid for a full term in office.
He defeated businessman and political newcomer Toby Doeden in a one-on-one matchup today after no candidate won 35% of the vote in the initial June primary.
Two Democrats advance to a runoff in the Georgia special election to succeed late Rep. David Scott
Marcye Scott, the daughter of the late Rep. David Scott, and fellow Democrat Everton Blair advanced to a runoff today in the Georgia special election to fill the final months of the longtime congressman’s term in the House, NBC News projects.
The two candidates finished atop a five-candidate, all-party special primary election for Georgia’s 13th District. But since no one got majority support, the race will go one more round.
With about 80% of the expected vote tallied, Marcye Scott had 47% support and Blair, a former school board chair in Gwinnett County, had 37%.
David Scott died April 22, triggering the special election to decide who holds the seat for the rest of 2026.
Senate votes to advance Russia sanctions bill
The Senate voted 86-12 tonight to advance a bill that would levy additional sanctions on Russia, moving the legislation one step closer to final passage.
Lawmakers voted to advance it following a meeting at the Capitol between a bipartisan group of lawmakers and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The bill, named after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was one of the last pieces of legislation Graham worked on before he died this month.
The measure would place new sanctions on Russian officials and allow the White House to place tariffs on China, India and other countries that purchase Russian oil and gas.
It’s unclear when the Senate will hold a vote on final passage. Without a time agreement to bypass debate, the vote could be pushed to next week. Senators are set to leave town for recess at the end of next week.
The House, which is out until September, must still pass the measure before it is sent to Trump's desk.
A bipartisan group of senators called the legislation a "tribute" to Graham's life, crediting him at a news conference with helping negotiate it.
"In typical Lindsey fashion, he found a way for us to vote on this bill right after we came back from celebrating his life," said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., expressed optimism that the bill would pass through the House and get Trump's signature, saying, "We want a law, not just a bill."
"I think what you can see from the overwhelming vote is that we’ll have a lot of momentum going into the House. So the folks who are serious in the House about helping Ukraine, helping them right now, should vote for this bill," Blumenthal said.
Shaheen says Russia sanctions bill will pass
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in the middle of remarks to the media in which he called the Russia sanctions bill “very important,” not only for the financial consequences but also as a signal it would send to Europe and Ukraine, when Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., burst into a cheer.
Moments later, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., said the bill had 61 votes — enough to advance.
“We are moving to this bill. It’s going to pass,” Shaheen said.
Senate confirms Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence
Jay Clayton. Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty Images file
The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as the director of national intelligence tonight on a 51-47 vote, with the Republican majority voting for the federal prosecutor who sidestepped questions about the 2020 election at his confirmation hearing this month.
Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee criticized Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, at his hearing after he repeatedly refused to directly answer who won the 2020 election.
Clayton will replace Bill Pulte, the acting director of national intelligence, who launched investigations into Trump's perceived political foes as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Trump named Pulte, who had no national security experience, to take over after National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard resigned in May following her husband's cancer diagnosis.
While Clayton has spent most of his career as a corporate lawyer and does not have extensive experience in intelligence, he has overseen cases with national security implications as a federal prosecutor.
As director of national intelligence, Clayton will be the president's principal intelligence adviser, oversee 18 spy services and influence secret intelligence budgets.
Trump hasn’t asked the Supreme Court to rehear birthright citizenship case despite his vow
Trump doesn’t appear to have followed through on his vow to launch a long-shot effort to persuade the Supreme Court to reconsider its recent ruling on birthright citizenship.
The 25-day window to file a petition for the court to rehear the case closed last night, with the docket showing that nothing has been submitted.
“I will be asking for a Rehearing by the United States Supreme Court, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said July 8 on Truth Social. “This miscarriage of justice will destroy America if they don’t change their absolutely insane decision.”
Neither the White House nor the Justice Department responded to multiple requests for comment.
Lindsey Graham's casket is moved out of the National Cathedral as service wraps up
An Armed Forces Body Bearer Team carries Graham's casket out of Washington National Cathedral. Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP
Graham's casket was taken out of the National Cathedral and transferred to a hearse as his funeral service wrapped up this afternoon.
Another service is set for tomorrow at the statehouse in Graham's native South Carolina.
Sen. Rand Paul bashes Gov. Andy Beshear over letter about McConnell
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., criticized Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear today over the letter he sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., demanding additional information about Sen. Mitch McConnell's medical condition.
"I think it’s a campaign ploy by Beshear to look relevant," Paul, McConnell's fellow senator from Kentucky, told reporters on Capitol Hill.
“There’s a lot of news over how Sen. McConnell is doing, and so to appear relevant, he’s putting out inflammatory statements and this and that,” Paul said. “And I think, for goodness’ sakes, you know, we’ve had elderly senators from both parties. You haven’t heard me ranting and raving saying they need to prove they’re alive and they need to do this.”
Beshear's office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hannity jokes that Graham probably has a version of Mar-a-Lago in heaven
Fox News host Sean Hannity joked that Graham probably "has a heavenly version of Mar-a-Lago," addressing Trump as the president smiled and nodded.
"It may even be a little bigger," he added. "He may have a little more gold in the Oval Office in his mansion in heaven, and I wouldn't be surprised if he added one big, beautiful ballroom and an arch somewhere on the property, because he would want to obviously duplicate his dearest friend in life, you, Mr. President."
Trump characterizes Graham as ‘extremely hawkish’ at funeral service
Trump described Graham as “extremely hawkish” during his time in the military and in public office, “for the good of our country.”
Graham had “unwavering faith in the righteousness of American power and prayer,” Trump said in his eulogy. “And he was extremely hawkish. I will tell you, he never saw a war that he didn’t like. Only his true friends would understand that, but he wanted it for the good of our country.”
An Armed Forces Body Bearer Team moves Graham's casket for a congressional tribute in the rotunda of the Capitol today. Mark Schiefelbein / Pool via AP
Graham was known as a war hawk in Congress and supported the United States’ military involvement in the Middle East, including in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran. He was also a staunch supporter of continuing to provide military aid to Ukraine, at odds with some of his fellow Republicans in Congress.
“He felt in his bones that our destiny is to win and that his job was to do everything he could to ensure our enemies would lose,” Trump said. “It was this conviction that led him to serve 33 years in uniform in the Air Force and Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard, even while he was in office. And it was this conviction that took him as a senator to almost every country on Earth, confronting America’s adversaries and standing up for America’s friends.”
Trump jokes about giving out Graham's phone number
Trump noted that his and Graham's relationship got off to a rocky start when they ran against each other in the 2016 presidential race.
"Lindsey said something nasty" when the two were campaign rivals, so "I did something I shouldn't have done," Trump said. "I shared his personal cellphone number with the millions of people that happened to be watching that particular day."
Trump — who repeated the number during his remarks in case "anybody wants to give it a shot" — said Graham's phone "exploded" with calls, and he was not happy about it. "I had that number for 20 years," he complained to Trump.
"That was the beginning of a friendship, in a way," Trump said, adding it was "Lindsey who had the last laugh."
While he "blew up" his phone for one day, "we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years. It was not easy," he quipped.
Trump calls Graham's Kavanaugh defense his 'finest hour'
Trump praised Graham's spirited defense of Brett Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing to become a Supreme Court justice, calling the moment "perhaps" Graham's "finest hour."
He said Graham's "impassioned defense of a wonderful person, a great gentleman, Justice Kavanaugh, ended a disgraceful attack on this very good man and gave us one of the greatest moments the Senate has ever seen."
"It was a truly monumental moment in Senate history," Trump said.
The speaker after Trump, Sean Hannity, noted that Kavanaugh was at the service.
President Donald Trump speaks at Washington National Cathedral today. Daniel Heuer / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Trump remembers Graham as a 'true American original'
Trump remembered Graham as a "true American original" and "a friend none of us will ever forget."
"Even though Lindsey's life was cut short while still so full of vim and vigor," he "lived absolutely to the fullest," Trump said.
"He went out at the peak of his game and as a legend," he said.
Cornyn says delaying Blanche's confirmation vote is 'being discussed'
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said delaying a planned vote Thursday in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general on a permanent basis is “being discussed, but hopefully it won’t be necessary.”
Cornyn said he is talking to the Justice Department about revising the settlement agreement between the government and Trump to allow the “anti-weaponization” fund to still be restarted, but he told reporters there are no updates on how those talks are going.
“They’ve been kind of radio silent for the last 24 hours. So I think my staff is talking to them, but we’re not, they know what they need to do. They just don’t want to do it," he said.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to vote on Blanche’s nomination. The committee has a 12-10 Republican majority, so if just one Republican voted no, Blanche would not be reported to the full Senate favorably (an 11-11 tie would mean the nomination fails).
Cornyn said that if it becomes clear Blanche doesn't have enough support, the committee's chair, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, may decide to postpone the vote.
But, he added, "I don’t think that’s the No. 1 goal right now."
High-profile officials and lawmakers gather to honor Graham
High-profile officials and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have gathered at Washington National Cathedral for Graham's memorial service.
Several Cabinet secretaries are attending, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Lawmakers in attendance include Republican Sens. John Thune, of South Dakota; Tim Scott, of South Carolina; and John Barrasso, of Wyoming, as well as Democratic Sens. Chris Coons, of Delaware; Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin; and Mark Kelly, of Arizona.
Cindy and Meghan McCain, the wife and daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., are also present.
Trump's motorcade arrived at the cathedral at 1:45 p.m.
President Donald Trump stands alongside Vice President JD Vance at Washington National Cathedral today. Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images
Trump's 'positive and productive' meeting with Netanyahu has ended, White House says
Trump's meeting with Netanyahu has also concluded, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.
Leavitt said Trump's meetings with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy were both "positive and productive." The White House has not released further information about what they discussed.
Netanyahu posted a series of photos of him meeting with Trump in the Oval Office. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and special envoy Steve Witkoff were also pictured.
Beshear calls on Senate GOP leader to investigate McConnell's condition if he can't serve
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., yesterday to fully investigate Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell's condition if he doesn't demonstrate that he can serve the state's constituents.
"As Governor of the state he serves, I am calling on him to directly and verbally address the people of Kentucky and provide proof of his capacity to serve, or resign," Beshear wrote in a letter to Thune.
The governor noted that a Senate vacancy occurs when a senator dies, resigns or is expelled by a vote in the upper chamber.
"If Senator McConnell is unwilling to voluntarily show that he still has the capacity to serve, I will insist that you as the Majority Leader of the Senate fully investigate his condition, report to the American people, and begin the process if warranted," he added.
Thune told NBC News today that he hadn’t seen the letter from Beshear.
“I think that’s an issue, really, that’s between Sen. McConnell and the people of Kentucky … " Thune said. "I’m not sure what [Beshear’s] prerogatives are, but that’s where the issue should be resolved.”
McConnell's office didn't immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment.
McConnell's office said in an update yesterday that the senator, 84, is still not ready to return to work at the Capitol as he recovers from a fall that led to his hospitalization June 14. The senator said he's in a rehabilitation facility.
Beshear has been calling for more transparency about McConnell's situation since the incident last month. The few updates from McConnell's office have included photos of him and his wife, but no video.
Zelenskyy says he and Trump discussed ‘diplomacy’ and defending Ukraine
Zelenskyy posted photos of his meeting with Trump at the White House today, where he said they spoke about the production of Patriot missiles by Ukraine to help in its air defenses against Russia.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote that he and Trump discussed “licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help.”
Zelenskyy said in the post that they also spoke about the diplomatic efforts to end the war, writing “it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.”
Funerals that Trump attended or was absent from as president
Graham’s service today at Washington National Cathedral will mark Trump’s fourth funeral appearance of his second term and seventh overall.
Here are the other funeral or memorial services Trump attended or did not attend in his first and second terms.
Jan. 9, 2025: Former President Jimmy Carter
Then-President-elect Trump attended former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral with his wife, Melania Trump, 11 days before his inauguration. Carter’s funeral, held at the Washington National Cathedral, brought together Trump and the three other former presidents and outgoing President Joe Biden. Trump made headlines at the funeral for greeting his former vice president, Mike Pence, and for what appeared to be a friendly and animated conversation with former President Barack Obama.
April 26, 2025: Pope Francis
Trump made the trip to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, joining more than 50 heads of state and government leaders from around the world. Biden also attended the service, sitting several rows behind Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among those in attendance, and he and Trump held a brief 15-minute meeting before the funeral. The meeting marked their first face-to-face encounter since their contentious Oval Office meeting two months earlier.
A photograph of the two leaders seated across from one another inside St. Peter’s Basilica became one of the defining images of the day. In a new interview with right-wing commentator Laura Loomer, Zelenskyy described the meeting as a “changing moment” in his relationship with Trump.
Sept. 21, 2025: Charlie Kirk
Trump attended Charlie Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, following the conservative activist's assassination. The event drew about 90,000 attendees and featured tributes from political allies, friends and family members. Trump was joined by tech billionaire Elon Musk in a suite overlooking the stadium.
Trump delivered remarks lasting more than 40 minutes, praising Kirk’s influence on the conservative movement and calling him a “martyr now for American freedom.”
Aug. 21, 2020: Robert Trump
Trump held a funeral for his brother, Robert Trump, in the East Room of the White House. He described his brother as his “best friend.”
March 2, 2018: Rev. Billy Graham
“America’s Pastor” Billy Graham became only the fourth private citizen to lie in honor in the Capitol rotunda. Trump attended the service, alongside Melania Trump and Pence among others. Trump delivered brief remarks at the service, praising Graham for his devotion to Christianity.
Dec. 5, 2018: Former President George H.W. Bush
Trump joined all other former presidents at George H.W. Bush’s funeral, although he did not deliver a eulogy or speech. Trump paid respects in the Capitol rotunda and declared a national day of mourning. Trump said in a post on X that “this is not a funeral, this is a day of celebration.”
April 21, 2018: Former first lady Barbara Bush
The White House released a statement explaining Trump’s absence, saying he would not attend, saying he would not attend “to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends.”
Sept. 1, 2018: Sen. John McCain
Trump did not attend Sen. John McCain’s funeral after McCain, R-Ariz., requested before his death that he would not be invited to the service. The two had a famously frosty relationship, with Trump belittling the Vietnam veteran and prisoner of war's military service and criticizing McCain's vote against the repeals of Obamacare in 2017.
Then-Vice President Pence attended instead, representing the administration.
Nov. 20, 2025: Former Vice President Dick Cheney
Trump and Vice President JD Vance did not attend former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral after they were not invited to the service. Among those in attendance were Cheney’s elder daughter, former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., former Presidents George W. Bush and Biden, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The absence of Trump and Vance reflected the Cheneys' long-standing opposition to Trump, whom they criticized for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results and for his rejection of traditional international alliances in favor of a nationalist agenda.
Zelenskyy leaves the White House, Netanyahu arrives
Zelenskyy left the White House at 10:41 a.m. after meeting with Trump, and Netanyahu arrived just minutes later, at 10:56 a.m.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the White House today. Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Lawmakers and Cabinet officials mourn Graham at Capitol ceremony
Graham's sister, Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., is among those gathered in the Capitol rotunda this morning to honor the late senator. Graham, who was appointed to serve the rest of her brother's term, was visibly emotional, with a tissue in hand, when his casket arrived.
In addition to Vice President JD Vance and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who delivered tributes to Graham at the Capitol, attendees include Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.
Vance remembers Graham as someone who 'loved people' and had a 'world-class sense of humor'
Vice President JD Vance paid tribute to Graham at the Capitol, remembering his former colleague as someone who "loved people from all walks of life."
Vance said that Graham was someone who was "fascinated" by everyone, and he believed that was because he loved them.
Vance also recalled Graham's "world-class sense of humor," discussing a time when Graham made Vance laugh so hard that he got abdominal cramps.
The vice president also said he did not believe that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh would have been confirmed to the high court without Graham's advocacy.
"I believe that he saved that nomination," Vance said.
Vance remembered Graham as someone "who could disagree with you without being disagreeable."
"I choose to remember Lindsey Graham as a person who could fight with you on one issue, but fight for you on another issue," he said. "I remember Lindsey Graham as a man who loved people, and because he loved people, he was willing to reason with them, to respect them and ultimately to persuade them."
Thune lauds Graham's leadership on foreign affairs and anti-abortion movement
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., hailed Graham as a "towering figure" both in Congress and "on the international stage."
Thune noted how Graham connected with foreign leaders and U.S. service members when they traveled in congressional delegations together.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Heather Diehl / Getty Images
"Lindsey's work on these issues would be enough to cement his place as a leader in the Senate, but he was a leader on many other issues too," said Thune, who credited his late colleague with helping to bring tax cut legislation to the floor when he chaired the Senate Budget Committee.
Thune said Graham was a "powerful voice for the pro-life movement" and was a "fierce defender of Ukraine."
"There was no one — no one — who took his job more seriously than Lindsey Graham," Thune said. "But also, no one was more capable of cracking up a room during the workweek here in Washington."
"The conversation and the laughs always flowed at any meal where Lindsey Graham was present," he added, "He was entertaining always, and pretentious never."
"To Lindsey, rest in peace, my friend," Thune said at the end of his tribute, pausing to collect himself. "I look forward to the days when you make us all laugh again."
Biggs praises Graham's legacy of service
Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., delivered a tribute to Graham at the Capitol ceremony, emphasizing his love for his home state and saying he "never forgot where he came from."
Biggs remembered Graham as someone who was authentic and had a quick wit and reflected on his legacy of service.
"A legacy is not built only through votes, legislation or headlines," she said. "A legacy is built through the lives touched, the relationships formed, and the focused mission to make a difference over time."
"Lindsey Graham's legacy is one of service to South Carolina, to our nation and to the calls of making the world a safer and better place," Biggs said. "He spent his life standing for something larger than himself, and that commitment will continue to be remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing him and by generations who will benefit from his service."
Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., walks past Sen. Darline Graham Nordone, R-S.C., and her husband Larry Nordone, during the ceremony in the rotunda. Win McNamee / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy has started
Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy has begun, according to the White House.
Zelenskyy also plans to attend the funeral service for Graham, who died shortly after returning to the U.S. from visiting with the Ukrainian president in Ukraine.
Graham's casket laid in the center of the Capitol rotunda
Graham's casket was brought into the Capitol rotunda by military personnel. His casket was draped in an American flag and laid on a black podium.
Lawmakers and other mourners, many dressed in black, watched in silence.
The casket of Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Capitol rotunda this morning. Frank Thorp V / NBC News
Fauci’s journal reveals how the Trump and Biden White Houses handled their Covid cases
Dr. Anthony Fauci served seven administrations as a public health expert and detailed much of his experience publicly. But journal entries a Republican senator published this week offer new details about how the administrations of Trump and Joe Biden handled their Covid diagnoses.
Trump and Netanyahu to meet for first time since they started the Iran war
Trump's meeting with Netanyahu today marks the first time that the two leaders are meeting in person since they started the war with Iran on Feb. 28.
Their last in-person meeting was at the White House on Feb. 11, and the two met half a dozen times in person the year before.
The two leaders often praise each other, with Netanyahu repeatedly calling Trump “the greatest friend that the state of Israel has ever had in the White House” and Trump calling Netanyahu “great” as recently as yesterday on Air Force One.
But they have had disagreements as the war stretches on. Yesterday, Trump told reporters that the two have "a little difference" on the military operations in Iran, but said their positions are still "pretty close."
Trump said this month that they have a "really great" relationship, though he conceded that they "have little disputes."
In June, Axios reported on a tense phone call between Trump and Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon, which threatened to derail the U.S. talks with Iran. Trump confirmed the gist of the call to the New York Post in an interview a couple of days later,
“I did," Trump said in the interview when asked if he had angrily confronted Netanyahu over the strikes in Lebanon. "I wouldn’t say angry. I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon, you know, at some point I said, ‘Bibi, we gotta stop this, we gotta stop it.’ But I have a very good relationship. We’ve done well, done well together.”
Trump has declined to say whether he supports Netanyahu for re-election, saying this month that Netanyahu has "been a great wartime president."
"I don’t know anything about his politics, I’m not sure," Trump said this month. "I would think he should be popular, because he did a very good job."
Acting intelligence chief announces another round of staff cuts
Pulte said in a post to X that his office is making another round of layoffs today, which will ultimately cut the office by about a third.
Acting intelligence chief Bill Pulte. Stefani Reynolds / Bloomberg via Getty Images file
"Good News!" he posted to X. "In addition to the Historic DECLASSIFICATIONS (Transparency!) by the President, we are, this morning, Executing a 5th and Near Final Round of TERMINATIONS, an approximately 30% Staff Reduction from Weeks Ago. The Intelligence Community must protect the American people, NOT the political whims of the bloated and corrupt elite class."
Pulte's post comes the same day that the Senate is expected to hold a final confirmation vote on Clayton to take over the nation's top intelligence post. The Senate voted to advance to Clayton's nomination for director of national intelligence last night.
NBC News reported last month that terminations were taking place at the office.
Vance and lawmakers to deliver remarks at Capitol ceremony honoring Graham
Vice President JD Vance will deliver remarks this morning during the first ceremony for Graham, which takes place at the Capitol.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., will also speak.
The ceremony is private but will be livestreamed. It will also feature musical tributes from the U.S. Army Brass Quintet and the Air Force chorus the Singing Sergeants.
Several members of Congress, as well as Vance, will present wreaths. Those lawmakers include Thune, Biggs, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Michigan's Democratic Senate candidates clash over 'celebrity' and Israel
Rep. Haley Stevens used the word “celebrity” — or variations of it — at least five times in Michigan’s Democratic Senate debate last night. It was not intended as a compliment for her rival in next week’s primary, former public health official Abdul El-Sayed.
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., and Abdul El-Sayed. CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images; AP file
Again and again, Stevens tried to brand El-Sayed, who also has written books, hosted a podcast and developed a large social media following, as a lightweight.
“Look, my opponent here, Abdul. He is such a talented guy. He’s written three books. He’s had 300 podcasts. You know, he’s had all this attention,” Stevens said during the debate, hosted and broadcast by WJBK-TV in Detroit. “But the deal is, we don’t need a celebrity candidate. We don’t need a celebrity senator. We need somebody who is committed to six years of hard, unglamorous work that’s going to stand up to this junk that is wreaking havoc and causing chaos right before our very eyes.”
Several times, El-Sayed responded with a line he first offered in his opening statement.
“Like I told all the viewers at the outset — that while my opponent was going to make this about me and her, I want to make this about you,” he said. “You can listen to the podcast. It’s there, Congresswoman. If you enjoy podcasts about public health, I welcome you to take a listen. You seem very concerned about that.”
He also often tied his rejoinders back to Stevens’ support from the political arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and his suggestion that she would be beholden to pro-Israel interests. A political action committee affiliated with AIPAC has spent tens of millions of dollars on Michigan’s airwaves to promote Stevens’ candidacy while attacking El-Sayed.
“I’m more concerned about the fact that people can’t pay for their gas, they can’t pay for their groceries,” he said. “We’re fighting a war that’s cost us billions of dollars that has been pushed by the government of a foreign country, the same foreign country that the folks paying for your ads want us to send billions of dollars to.”
The winner of the Aug. 4 primary will advance to the general election against former Rep. Mike Rogers, who is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Senators to meet with Zelenskyy before taking up Russia sanctions bill
A bipartisan group of senators will meet with Zelenskyy in the Capitol at 6 p.m. today, according to three sources familiar with the meeting. It’s not clear which senators will attend.
Later in the evening, senators will vote to start the process to consider the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, a process that could drift into next week barring a time agreement to move more quickly.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has called the bill “one of the worst bills ever presented to Congress,” says he will lift his objection to moving quickly if he gets an amendment vote.
“I’ve told them that if they will allow me an amendment to strip out the tariff part of it then I’ll let them condense time so they can go through the bill this week,” Paul told NBC News yesterday.
Senate expected to confirm Clayton as Trump's intel chief
The Senate is expected to confirm Clayton’s nomination to be Trump’s director of national intelligence tonight.
Clayton will replace Pulte, a close Trump ally and former top housing official who has been serving as acting intelligence chief. Pulte announced last night he had led a fourth round of lay-offs.
The Senate could vote to extend Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Section 702, which provides authority to conduct warrantless surveillance of non-U.S. persons living abroad, after they confirm Clayton. Getting Pulte out of the acting DNI job was the what Democrats are requiring to provide their votes to extend the intelligence gathering tool.
But even if they do that, the House is out of session until the end of August, so the program is expected to go another month without congressional authorization.
Netanyahu to join Trump for high-stakes meeting at the White House
Trump is expected to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today in a high-stakes sit-down that comes at a politically fraught moment for the Israeli prime minister.
The two leaders will discuss the war with Iran, the framework agreement for peace in Lebanon and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, a White House official said. Trump will also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Tuesday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, the official said.
Washington says goodbye to Sen. Lindsey Graham
Trump, congressional colleagues and world leaders today will say their final goodbyes to Sen. Lindsey Graham, the influential and colorful foreign policy hawk whose sudden death this month at age 71 stunned Washington and reverberated in capitals around the globe.
Two days of ceremonies and funeral services will begin around 10 a.m. ET when Graham’s casket arrives at the Capitol for a brief ceremony in the rotunda that will include nods to both his military service and his more than three decades in Congress.
