Graham's National Security Confession Sparks Scrutiny Amid South Carolina Senate Runoff
-
Darline Graham’s admission that she was not well-versed on Taiwan is drawing scrutiny days before South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff, putting the Trump-backed candidate’s national security credentials at the center of her closing fight against Rep. Ralph Norman.
Compare 10 other versions
Washington TimesThe senator, who was appointed to fill the seat of her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, ran into trouble during Tuesday’s Senate primary runoff debate against Rep. Ralph Norman, South Carolina Republican, when Newsmax moderator Greta Van Susteren asked the candidates whether Taiwan and the South China Sea posed national security concerns for the U.S. Ms. Graham responded that “national security is not my thing, not my area of expertise,” though she added that she supports the military.
The Daily WireSen. Darline Graham (R-SC) admitted she was “not that informed on national security” during a debate against Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) on Tuesday, one week before the two face off in a Republican runoff for the Senate seat previously held by her late brother, Lindsey Graham.
ABC NewsGraham'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.
BreitbartOn Wednesday’s broadcast of the Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” Sen. Darline Graham (R-SC) said, “I’m not a politician, certainly not a career politician. I don’t speak politician. I was just honest,” when she said she wasn’t that informed on national security. She also stated that she “did say, several times, that China is our enemy, a military and economic threat to the United States. Of course, Taiwan is our friend.” And that she knows security issues are important, but she doesn’t think many people can find Taiwan on a map. She also said voters are “concerned about a lot of other things other than Taiwan.”
PBS NewsHourSen. Darline Graham avoids giving direct answer to national security question in S.C. debate: 'Not my thing' It was a high-profile misstep a week before she faces a runoff election in her bid to hold onto the South Carolina seat to which she was appointed last month.
USA TodaySouth Carolina Republican Sen. Darline Graham said that "national security is not my thing" during a Republican debate.
Washington ExaminerSen. Darline Graham Nordone (R-SC) is trying to turn down the temperature after being ridiculed for saying she is “not that informed” on national security during a debate, reminding voters that she is not a career politician.
HuffPostSen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.), sister of late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and President Donald Trump’s hand-picked choice for his seat, is facing heavy criticism after struggling with a key question during Tuesday night’s debate.
New York TimesDarline Graham’s Debate Misstep Tests South Carolina’s Appetite for a Political Newcomer Senator Darline Graham has argued that her lack of political experience is a strength as she runs to succeed her brother, Lindsey Graham. But a debate misstep has rattled some of her supporters.
RealClearPoliticsThroughout her brief career as a senator and as a candidate to remain one, Darline Graham has gone to some lengths to distance herself from the legacy of her late brother while snuggling up to Donald Trump as closely as possible. That reflects a political shrewdness that Lindsey Graham himself might have ruefully endorsed. Read Full Article ⟶
-
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.
Compare 5 other versions
HuffPost“I’m just gonna be honest here,” Graham replied. “I’m not that informed on national security, so...”
Washington TimesAsked earlier in the week whether her admitted gap in national security knowledge undercut her credibility, Ms. Graham Nordone told reporters, “I’m smart. Yes, I’ll learn. I’ll become informed.”
The Daily Wire“I’m just going to be honest here, I’m not that informed on national security,” she said.
Washington Examiner“Is national security important? Absolutely,” she said. “Can I learn? I’m smart. Yes, I’ll learn. I’ll become informed.”
USA Today"I'm not a polished politician up here," said Graham, who worked for decades in state government to help blind people and others with disabilities overcome employment barriers. "National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise. But I do support the military."
-
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.
Compare 3 other versions
The Daily WireGraham has previously outlined the differences between herself and her brother on foreign policy, saying in a July interview that she preferred to focus on issues that matter to “the average person.”
USA TodayIt's unclear what repercussions the debate-stage flub might portend for Graham. Gibbs Knotts, a political science professor and provost at Coastal Carolina University, acknowledged there were other moments in which she was "pretty effective" in the debate and said the Graham name "remains very popular" in the Palmetto State. Graham later downplayed the significance of the moment on Fox News, saying that "people in South Carolina are more worried about making ends meet" and "boys in girls' sports" than Taiwan.
Fox NewsGraham was appointed to fill the seat after her brother’s death and is now seeking a full term. Her runoff against Norman is scheduled for Tuesday.
-
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.
Compare 1 other version
USA TodayDemocrats have also had their share of foot-in-the-mouth moments when probed about their takes on geopolitics. At the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, a potential 2028 presidential contender, mistakenly said Venezuela was below the equator. She also stumbled over a question about whether the United States should help Taiwan if China were to invade the island.
-
Despite the backlash, Ms. Graham still has considerable establishment support heading into Tuesday’s runoff. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, Wyoming Republican, campaigned for her in South Carolina on Thursday, and President Trump — who has endorsed her — is scheduled to headline a Myrtle Beach rally on her behalf Friday.
Compare 1 other version
Washington ExaminerGraham Nordone, however, has political heavyweights ready to stump for her in the Palmetto State. On Thursday, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) is also traveling to South Carolina. Trump is heading to Myrtle Beach on Friday to participate in a rally with the senator. She also has the endorsements from a slate of Senate Republicans.
-
Several people in the audience could be heard reacting to the confession. Graham continued: “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.”
Compare 1 other version
ABC NewsBoos 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."
-
Graham responded, “Right. I think you’re 100% right, Sean. And I tripped up on one question last night, regarding Taiwan. But, I’ve said, many times, I’m not a politician, certainly not a career politician. I don’t speak politician. I was just honest, and I think that’s kind of a foreign concept. But I talked to several people today, I traveled around the state, and they said, we appreciated the fact that you were honest, and I did say, several times, that China is our enemy, a military and economic threat to the United States. Of course, Taiwan is our friend. But I think people in South Carolina are more worried about making ends meet. They’re concerned about boys in girl’s sports. One lady talked to me extensively about that today. They’re concerned about the 2nd Amendment.
Compare 1 other version
Fox News"I tripped up on one question last night, regarding Taiwan. I don’t speak politician. I was just honest. Of course, Taiwan is our friend. But I think people in South Carolina are more worried about boys in girls sports."
10 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
-
01 USA Today The senator's debate-stage gaffe was eyebrow raising – some even say disqualifying. But she joins a long list of politicians who've been stumped by pressing issues on the world stage.
-
02 Washington Examiner On other points of national security and foreign policy, Graham Nordone said she would support President Donald Trump’s decisions.
-
03 Politico ‘Woefully underprepared’: Graham critics seize on her foreign policy misstep President Donald Trump is working hard to propel the political newcomer into office. Her debate performance proved just how green she still is.
-
04 NBC News Now Playing How Sen. Darline Graham’s debate blunder could give undecided voters ‘some pause’ 06:21 UP NEXT ‘Fed up with a war they didn't want’: Midwestern voters air frustrations impacting the midterms 05:33 Democratic candidate for FL governor says Trump is ‘promoting socialism’ as president 10:25 Diversity ‘strengthens us’: Democrat challenging Debbie Wasserman Schultz after GOP redistricting 08:26 Kornacki previews key Florida primaries after ‘dramatic’ redistricting 10:53 ‘Resign.
-
05 ABC News Norman's answer on Taiwan, for his part, praised Trump's position as showing "peace through strength" that he said deters antagonistic nations.
-
06 Fox News She added: "I’m not a politician. I don’t speak politician. I was just honest, and I think that’s a foreign concept in politics."
-
07 Breitbart They’re concerned about the SAVE America Act, illegal immigration. So, they’re concerned about a lot of other things other than Taiwan.”
-
08 RealClearPolitics Was Graham's Dumb Debate Answer Just an Act?
-
09 The Daily Wire “Whether it’s spy balloons flying overhead or buying up land near South Carolina military bases, China continues to prove that it is a threat to the United States. South Carolinians deserve to know whether their next Senator has the know-how to lead on this issue.”
-
10 HuffPost Polished or not, a candidate for the U.S. Senate running in the middle of a war admitting that “national security is not my thing” left critics on social media stunned:
Fact Corroboration
Which sources independently confirm the same facts. Hover a claim to see its sources, or a source to see what it corroborates.
Coverage by Perspective
Source Similarity
Connections show how similarly each outlet covered this story. Thicker lines = more similar framing.
Sources (13)
- huffpost
- pbs
- abc
- nyt
- dailywire
- foxnews
- breitbart
- usatoday
- nbc
- rcp
- politico
- washexaminer
- washtimes