Darline Graham raises eyebrows after she says in debate she's 'not that informed on national security'
Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., who is running for a chance to take her late brother Lindsey Graham's spot on the general election ballot, is facing criticism after saying during a debate that she "is not that informed on national security."
Graham, who was recommended to fill out her brother's term and was endorsed by President Donald Trump ahead of launching a run for a full term, has presented herself as a political outsider and previously said she plans to be more focused on domestic issues, such as the cost of living, than her brother.
But during a debate on Tuesday night, while facing off against next Tuesday's runoff opponent Rep. Ralph Norman, Darline Graham was asked if she feels Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security issues for the United States.
Graham first asked for the question to be repeated before answering, "I'm just going to be honest here -- I'm not, on national security, that -- I'm not that informed on national security. So," she said, trailing off for a moment.
Boos could be heard in the audience.
Then she added, "But I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military. My dad was in the Army. I'm not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military."
Norman's answer on Taiwan, for his part, praised Trump's position as showing "peace through strength" that he said deters antagonistic nations.
"Taiwan's a definite all. ... what the president is doing right is he's enabling Taiwan to defend themselves against China. But it's peace through strength that he's showing with Iran that China, Russia, others are looking at it, so that they don't want to deal with America, and that's why they haven't attacked Taiwan," Norman said.
Graham's own comments sparked some backlash, including from former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who is supporting Norman and was ambassador to the United Nations in Trump's first term. "Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States' national security. Darline Graham admits she's not. This is not something you inherit. And it's critical in the U.S. Senate," Haley wrote on X on Tuesday night.
A spokesperson for Graham, after the debate, pointed to comments she made after the debate when she said she feels South Carolinians care more about domestic issues than foreign ones.
Nick Reynolds with the local Post & Courier reported Graham told reporters after the debate that she feels residents of South Carolina are "worried about their pocketbooks more than they're worried about the South China Sea, quite honestly."
Trump hasn't weighed in on the debate but he was critical when Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is considered a possible 2028 presidential candidate, stumbled over a question about Taiwan at the Munich Security Conference in February.
"Well, her performance was horrible. I was surprised, actually. I didn't know she was stupid," Trump said on Air Force One when asked about Ocasio-Cortez's response. "She had no idea. I don't think she knew what Taiwan was. That was her problem."
Graham, who is introducing herself to voters around the state as she tries for a full term announced on Tuesday that Trump will be rallying with her on Friday in Myrtle Beach.
Graham finished first and Norman second in the Aug. 11 special primary for a full term but Graham failed to cross the 50% threshold to win outright. The winner of the runoff will face Democratic nominee Annie Andrews in November.
