Vice President JD Vance honored the late Sen. Lindsey Graham on Tuesday by highlighting what he believes was one of the senator’s greatest contributions to the conservative movement: helping secure Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Speaking during Graham’s memorial service at the U.S. Capitol, Vance praised the South Carolina Republican for standing firmly behind Kavanaugh during the contentious 2018 confirmation battle. According to Vance, Graham’s passionate defense of the nominee proved to be a turning point in one of the most closely watched Supreme Court confirmations in American history.
Vance said Graham believed the controversy surrounding Kavanaugh had gone far beyond a debate over judicial philosophy.
“What he saw happening to Kavanaugh was not a policy disagreement—it was character assassination,” Vance said, according to The Hill. “Lindsey got as fiery and as passionate as I have ever seen a human being get during a judicial confirmation, and I believe that he saved that nomination.”
The vice president said Graham’s remarks resonated because they were driven by conviction rather than political theater. Instead of seeking attention, Vance said the longtime senator focused on persuading fellow lawmakers to carefully consider the facts before casting their votes.
Vance said Graham’s objective was to fulfill one of the Senate’s highest responsibilities—convincing fellow lawmakers through reasoned argument. According to the vice president, Graham ultimately succeeded in winning over his colleagues.
Reflecting on Graham’s legacy, Vance said the senator’s greatest achievement during the confirmation battle was not generating headlines but influencing the outcome.
Vance said Graham’s legacy was about far more than media attention. He said the senator’s true accomplishment was changing minds and influencing the outcome, adding that this is how he will remember his longtime friend.
The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh became one of the defining political battles of President Donald Trump’s first term. Kavanaugh faced allegations of sexual misconduct during the confirmation process, which he repeatedly and unequivocally denied. The accusations sparked weeks of heated debate inside the Senate and across the country.
Throughout the proceedings, Graham emerged as one of Kavanaugh’s strongest defenders. His emotional speeches during the Judiciary Committee hearings drew national attention as he argued that the confirmation process had become deeply politicized and unfair to the nominee.
Despite the intense controversy, the Senate confirmed Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in October 2018. The confirmation cemented a conservative majority on the nation’s highest court, a development many Republicans view as one of President Trump’s most significant accomplishments during his first term.
Vance also praised Graham’s broader approach to judicial nominations, noting that the senator believed qualified nominees deserved fair consideration regardless of which political party controlled the White House.
Vance said Graham consistently backed judicial nominees he believed were qualified, even when doing so drew criticism from fellow Republicans.
Friends and colleagues from both parties gathered Tuesday at the Capitol to remember Graham’s decades of public service. The memorial marked the first of two ceremonies celebrating his life and career. A second service was scheduled at Washington National Cathedral, where President Donald Trump was expected to deliver a eulogy honoring his longtime friend and Senate ally.
For many conservatives, Graham’s unwavering support for Brett Kavanaugh remains one of the defining moments of his career in the Senate. Vance’s tribute underscored the belief that Graham’s leadership during the confirmation fight helped shape the future of the Supreme Court and protected one of President Trump’s most enduring judicial legacies.
Years later, the impact of that confirmation continues to be felt. With Kavanaugh serving on the Supreme Court, many of the Court’s most significant constitutional rulings have reflected the lasting importance of judicial appointments, making Graham’s role in the confirmation battle a key chapter in modern American political history.