(Credit: Photo published by journalist Barak Ravid on his X account)
BEIRUT — Lebanese businessman and SGBL CEO Antoun Sehnaoui, together with former U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus, hosted a dinner on Monday evening in memory of influential South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 from a cardiac condition, Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported on X.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently on an official visit to the United States to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, his wife Sara Netanyahu, and members of Graham’s family attended the dinner, along with several Republican senators, senior officials, business leaders and Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter also attended the dinner. The event took place on the eve of the first day of funeral services for the late senator.
The relationship between Sehnaoui, who is often seen among figures close to Donald Trump, and Ortagus first became public in 2025, when several media outlets reported on their close ties alongside reports of Ortagus’ divorce. A few months later, Ortagus left her position as deputy U.S. envoy for the Middle East in the Trump administration.
The couple’s relationship became public in April, when they attended the annual Days of Remembrance ceremony organized by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. During the event, their names were unveiled on the museum’s donor wall, making Sehnaoui the first Lebanese national to be listed there.
Funeral services for Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, began Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol with a ceremony during which Vice President JD Vance praised him as a man of conviction who "loved people from all walks of life." A second ceremony was scheduled later that day at Washington National Cathedral, attended by Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Israeli prime minister.
Graham, a prominent figure in Washington’s interventionist wing, was a strong supporter of Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion, advocating for increased aid to Kyiv and tougher sanctions on Moscow. He was also a staunch supporter of Israel. Before his death, he had sought to persuade the United States "to join" Israel in its strikes against Hezbollah.
Following the announcement of Graham’s death, Trump described him as "one of the greatest senators" he had known and ordered U.S. flags nationwide to be flown at half-staff for several days.
