News/Commentary

Cory Booker honors Lindsey Graham with emotional tribute, but not everyone bought it

July 13, 2026 | | Print Article

A senator’s tribute after the death of his “most unexpected friend” was met with mixed reactions as what some viewed as “heartfelt” others found to be “off-putting and strange.”

Over the weekend, the sudden death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (D) was announced, prompting prayers for the repose of his soul at the same time buzzards began circling around the now vacated seat. As often a bane to conservatives as he was an ally, the longtime lawmaker’s aisle-bridging reputation was represented in a video message from New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) that had all the hallmarks of a “performative” public relations message.

Shared on social media under the caption, “I am stunned by Senator Graham’s passing, and thinking back this morning about some of the work we did together. My prayers are with his family and all who cherished him. Rest in Peace,” the senator began his remarks thinking back to his own first term and work together on the First Step Act.

Seen with headphones in and a t-shirt on that read “Think Bigger,” a teary-eyed Booker said as he walked through some alleyway, “So, I go up to Lindsey Graham, and I’m a brand new senator — determined to do something about mass incarceration. And I hear through [Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D)] and others that he’s the guy to work with. And I say, ‘Mr. Graham, sir, I’d like to work with you on criminal justice reform.'”

Garnering nearly 2 million views since its publication Sunday morning, the senator continued, “He seems almost amused by what I said. He goes, ‘Cory, do you understand I’m in a primary right now, and I’m running against a guy who is batsh*t crazy? I can’t even so much as talk to you right now. Get out of here man. Come back to me after my primary.”

Booker concluded after heaping praise on Graham, “I am stunned at Lindsey Graham’s death, but I pray that he is reunited with his friend, [Arizona Sen. John McCain (R)], that they both are experiencing God’s love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. My prayers are with his family and all those who loved and cherished him. I will miss my, perhaps, most unexpected friend in the Senate and someone with whom I got some good things done.”

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Many received the video at face value, lauding Booker for sharing his personal experience working with Graham and choosing the moment for taking a “classy” path to honor the career of a fellow civil servant.

However, others couldn’t overlook the style of delivery. Taking note of the outfit and setting, meant to suggest Booker was out for some morning exercise when he suddenly heard the news that broke hours earlier, the video has numerous obvious cuts indicative of requiring multiple takes.

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That, and the walking delivery, were received as engineered to appeal to a particular audience. As one X user put it, “I call this performative Gen Z-ism,” as another added, “Glad I’m not the only one who found it off-putting and strange, even if the message was decent and kind.”

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Kevin Haggerty
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