Key facts
- Donald Trump is campaigning for Darline Graham in South Carolina's Republican Senate primary runoff.
- Graham admitted during a debate that she is not well-informed on national security issues.
- Mark Sanford endorsed Ralph Norman, Graham's opponent, citing Graham's inexperience.
- Graham was appointed to the Senate to fill the seat of her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
- Norman has nine years of experience in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Donald Trump held a rally in South Carolina to support Darline Graham's bid for a U.S. Senate seat in a Republican primary runoff against U.S. Representative Ralph Norman. Graham, who was appointed to the Senate earlier this year to fill the vacancy left by her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham, has faced criticism for admitting during a debate that she is "not that informed on national security." This statement contrasted with her brother's prominent foreign policy role. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, a supporter of Norman, also criticized Graham's lack of political experience. Norman, who has nearly a decade of experience in the U.S. House of Representatives, received an endorsement from former Governor Mark Sanford, who cited Graham's inexperience and the nation's financial situation as reasons for backing Norman. In the initial primary, Graham received 32.8% of the vote to Norman's 24.6%. The winner of Tuesday's runoff will face Democrat Annie Andrews in the general election. Trump carried South Carolina by nearly 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
During the rally, Graham urged supporters to "pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot" and vote. Trump, unbothered by her debate admission, stated that her loyalty to his agenda was what mattered, adding that she was "totally for the military" and would do what the military and the president want. Graham, in turn, reminded the crowd that Trump had no prior elected office experience before his 2016 victory, stating, "I think he’s done a damn good job."