Darline Graham Faces Security Questions as Trump Rallies in South Carolina

President Donald Trump is scheduled to rally for Senator Darline Graham in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday, August 21, ahead of a Republican runoff election next Tuesday, August 25.

Voters will choose between Graham and Representative Ralph Norman for the Republican Senate nominee. Graham, appointed by Republican South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster to fill the seat of her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, is seeking a full six-year term. During a debate this week, Graham stated, "I'm not that informed on national security" and "National security is not my thing," when asked if Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the United States.

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, a Norman supporter, criticized Graham's remarks, saying national security is not inherited and is critical in the US Senate. Trump's endorsement of Graham's bid has rankled some South Carolina Republicans, who called it an attempted coronation of a candidate with no political experience. Graham, 62, specialized in services for the disabled before her appointment and made history as the first woman to represent South Carolina in the US Senate.

She finished first in a 10-candidate Republican primary on August 11, 2026, with nearly 33% of the vote. South Carolina has not elected a Democrat statewide in decades, and Trump's 2016 presidential primary victory there helped propel him to the nomination. A hot mic moment during a campaign event caught a staffer telling a reporter, "Nothing too difficult here," before Graham was asked a question.

The pro-life movement is divided in the race; Graham has endorsements from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and National Right to Life, while Norman has a perfect rating from major pro-life organizations. Randy Page, a former board member of National Right to Life, resigned from the organization after Graham's endorsement.