USA · 21 August, 2026 · 2 min read
Trump Campaigns in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Backing Sen. Darline Graham Ahead of GOP Runoff
Trump travels to Myrtle Beach to rally for Darline Graham ahead of runoff. He urged South Carolinians to vote for Graham to win a full six-year term.
How Trump justifies Graham after the national-security debate stumble.
11 of 12 outlets skipped it: solar-industry PAC attacks Norman and links ads to Trump movement betrayal.
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Democracy Now!
“Critics have called Graham “dangerously unqualified” after her poor performance at a debate earlier this week.”
Translated from the original.
Read the original ↗CNN
“With turnout on the line, Trump understood his assignment, touting Graham as a “very special person” whom he asked to run for her brother’s seat.”Read the original ↗
Democracy Now! leads with unqualification; CNN/PBS emphasise Trump’s endorsement strategy.
Trump backs Darline Graham
President Donald Trump campaigned in Myrtle Beach, S.C., for Sen. Darline Graham ahead of Tuesday’s Republican runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman for the GOP nomination in November’s Senate race.
“I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security”
Trump’s rally came after Graham stumbled during a debate when she said, “I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security,” in response to a question about Taiwan and the South China Sea.
The debate gaffe became a central point of contention as Graham, appointed by S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster to fill in for the remainder of her late brother Lindsey Graham’s term, sought a full six-year Senate term.
Reuters reported Trump’s endorsement was meant to test the White House’s influence in a heavily Republican state, with the runoff campaign framed as a choice between Graham and Democratic victory in November.
In the same Reuters coverage, Trump defended the moment by calling her answer “a very honest answer” before boarding Air Force One for the rally at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Debate fallout and competing
As Trump tried to clean up the debate mess, MS NOW quoted him saying, “She’s never done it before, but she knows politics well,” while he emphasized Graham’s reverence for the military.
The Hill reported Trump told reporters that Graham “was being honest,” adding, “She’s going to do what the military wants, and, really, what the president wants.”
Criticism of Graham’s preparedness persisted, with Nikki Haley writing on X that “Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States’ national security. Darline Graham admits she’s not.”
The Post and Courier described Graham’s debate night stumble on Aug. 18, when she admitted she’s “not that informed on national security,” and said Trump addressed the issue after arriving in Myrtle Beach by telling the crowd: “All she was is being honest.”
While some attendees told MS NOW they were undecided before the rally, Scott Feneley said, “I’m still open-minded,” and said he was “kind of on the side of Ralph Norman.”
Runoff stakes for November
The runoff on Tuesday will determine who faces Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician who had more than $4.1 million in her campaign war chest at the end of June, according to Reuters.
“The winner of Tuesday’s runoff will face Democrat Annie Andrews”
Reuters also said Graham and Norman emerged from a Republican field of 10 candidates in a special August 11 Senate primary, where Graham bested Norman 32.8% to 24.6% but fell short of the clear majority needed to win outright.
The State reported that McMaster appointed Graham to finish her late brother’s term after his death on July 11, leaving about six months remaining, and said McMaster is now publicly backing Graham for a full six-year term.
In the same Reuters reporting, Trump’s endorsement rankled some South Carolina Republicans who criticized the move as an attempted “coronation” of a candidate with no political experience.
With control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate up for grabs in November’s midterm elections, Reuters framed the contest as a test of whether Trump’s influence can carry through to the general election in South Carolina.