Senate Majority Leader John Thune became visibly emotional Monday as he delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, struggling to hold back tears as he reflected on their decades-long friendship before yielding the Senate floor.
The South Dakota Republican paused near the end of his remarks, his voice cracking as he offered one final message to his longtime colleague.
“We will laugh together again,” Thune said. “Mr. President, I yield the floor.”
The brief but emotional moment underscored the profound sense of loss felt throughout the Senate following Graham’s sudden death over the weekend. As Thune finished speaking, observers noted that he appeared overcome with emotion while remembering the South Carolina senator, who had become one of the chamber’s most influential Republican voices over the past two decades.
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Graham died Saturday, July 11, at the age of 71 after what his office initially described as a “brief and sudden illness.” On Monday, the District of Columbia medical examiner released preliminary findings concluding that the longtime senator died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
An aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer of the body’s main artery tears, allowing blood to flow between the layers of the artery wall. The condition is often fatal if not treated immediately and is commonly associated with underlying cardiovascular disease.
The medical examiner’s findings also addressed widespread speculation that circulated online over the weekend. President Donald Trump also spoke publicly about Graham’s passing Monday, revealing that he had spoken with the senator just hours before learning of his death.
“Around the time, it couldn’t have been much longer. It could have been his last call,” Trump said. “I got a message about one o’clock in the morning from one of the people at his office that he had passed away. I said, ‘I can’t believe it.’ He was like a member of the family to me.”
The president went on to praise Graham’s political instincts and ability to work across party lines.
“He had a unique ability. He was able to deal with Democrats and Republicans,” Trump said. “If I had a problem with a Democrat, he could work it out. He was a great politician.”
Earlier Monday, Trump also recommended that South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appoint Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily fill the Senate seat until a special election is held.
As lawmakers continue paying tribute to Graham, Thune’s emotional farewell captured the personal side of a loss that extends beyond politics. After years serving together in the Senate, the majority leader’s final words reflected the friendship the two Republicans shared.
“We will laugh together again,” Thune said before leaving the Senate floor.
