{"id":2636682,"date":"2026-07-28T12:43:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-gets-choked-up-during-funeral-service-while-recalling-grahams-humor\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T12:46:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T16:46:05","slug":"thune-gets-choked-up-during-funeral-service-while-recalling-grahams-humor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-gets-choked-up-during-funeral-service-while-recalling-grahams-humor\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune gets choked up during funeral service while recalling Graham&#8217;s humor"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-gets-choked-up-during-funeral-service-while-recalling-grahams-humor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2636682&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Vice president JD Vance participated in a tribute to the late Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on July 28, 2026, where he presented a wreath. Senate Majority Leader John Thune shared heartfelt memories of Graham, highlighting his sense of humor and his dedication to bipartisan cooperation, especially advocating for Ukraine and pro-life issues. Thune emphasized Graham&#8217;s seriousness about his work combined wiht his ability to bring levity to the Senate, and expressed deep personal loss, recalling their over 21 years of friendship and collaboration. The tribute included remarks from various lawmakers and family members, notably Graham&#8217;s sister, U.S. Sen.Darline Graham, mourning her brother. The service reflected Graham&#8217;s vibrant personality, bipartisan efforts, and the strong bonds he forged with colleagues throughout his career.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Vice President JD Vance presents a wreath during a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (Tierney L. Cross\/Pool via AP)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26209534978739.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vice President JD Vance presents a wreath during a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (Tierney L. Cross\/Pool via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"178\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) remembered Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"737\">Lindsey Graham<\/a> (R-SC) by his humor, choking up at the thought of no longer laughing at \u201cwitty comments\u201d delivered by the late senator.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune delivered remarks in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/us-capitol\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1408\">Capitol<\/a> rotunda Tuesday morning to members of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"31\">Congress<\/a> and family members gathered to mourn the sudden loss of Graham.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4665798\/thune-choked-up-funeral-service-while-recalling-lindsey-graham-humor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Thune gets choked up during funeral service while recalling Lindsey Graham\u2019s humor<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4665746\/jd-vance-lindsey-graham-memorial-service-true-american-original\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Vance remembers Lindsey Graham as \u2018a true American original\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4665796\/fetterman-calls-mamdani-clown-says-democrats-must-police-ranks\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fetterman calls Mamdani a \u2018clown,\u2019 says Democrats must \u2018police your own ranks\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLest anyone think it was all work and no levity with Lindsey, let me just say that there was no one, no one who took his job more seriously than Lindsey Graham, but also no one was more capable of cracking up a room during the work week here in Washington,\u201d Thune said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., attends a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (Tierney L. Cross\/Pool via AP)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26209546261431.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., attends a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (Tierney L. Cross\/Pool via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The majority leader said Graham was always the \u201cfirst call\u201d when senators were forced to be away from their families, emphasizing the South Carolinian\u2019s ability to keep everyone in stitches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe was entertaining always, and pretentious never,\u201d Thune said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune championed Graham for his ability to reach across the aisle to move legislation forward, honing in on his defense of Ukraine and pro-life priorities.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter to Lindsey whether an issue was popular or unpopular, whether he had the full support of his colleagues or whether he was standing alone,\u201d he said. \u201cIf he believed he was in the right. He spoke up. He told things the way he saw them, and he didn\u2019t mince words.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In closing, Thune touched on his friendship with Graham, choking up as he shared how he will miss his colleague.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor me, most of all, I will remember him as my friend,\u201d Thune said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to think that there will be no more Senate dinners with Lindsey; that he won\u2019t be dropping by my office to discuss some piece of legislation, or make me laugh with his witty commentary.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thune extended his condolences to Graham\u2019s family and staff, saying he will \u201ccling to the same faith that Lindsey had.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4655253\/big-beautiful-bill-lindsey-graham-wins-over-murderers-row\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4655253\/big-beautiful-bill-lindsey-graham-wins-over-murderers-row\/\">HOW THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL BECAME LAW: GRAHAM WINS OF \u2018MURDERER\u2019S ROW\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo Lindsey, rest in peace, my friend,\u201d Thune said. \u201cI look forward to the days when you make us all laugh again.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Graham and Thune served in the Senate together for over 21 years, with their paths first crossing in the House, where they were colleagues for six years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More photos:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">U.S. Sen. Darline Graham mourns her late brother by his casket as she attends a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 28, 2026. (Graeme Jennings | Washington Examiner)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/072826_WEX_LINDSEY_GRAHAM-9_febdf4-e1785254883582.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Sen. Darline Graham mourns her late brother by his casket as she attends a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Rotunda of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 28, 2026. (Graeme Jennings | Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., from left, Rep. Joe Wilson,  R-S.C., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Vice President JD Vance attend a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (Tierney L. Cross\/Pool via AP)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26209546255970.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C., from left, Rep. Joe Wilson,  R-S.C., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Vice President JD Vance attend a congressional tribute to late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (Tierney L. Cross\/Pool via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pays his respects during a Congressional tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Allison Robbert)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26209559769750.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pays his respects during a Congressional tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Allison Robbert)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, sister of Lindsey Graham, and family, attend a congressional tribute to her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 28, 2026. (Graeme Jennings | Washington Examiner)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/072826_WEX_LINDSEY_GRAHAM-7_e4f19f-e1785254999337.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">U.S. Sen. Darline Graham, sister of Lindsey Graham, and family, attend a congressional tribute to her late brother Sen. Lindsey Graham in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on July 28, 2026. (Graeme Jennings | Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senate Leader Thune recalls Lindsey Graham\u2019s humor and leadership<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2636683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26209546261431.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50911,5894,9122],"class_list":["post-2636682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-funeral-2","tag-politics","tag-tribute"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26209546261431.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2636682"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2636685,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636682\/revisions\/2636685"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2636683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2636682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2636682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2636682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}