{"id":10166,"date":"2026-08-19T04:35:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T04:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=10166"},"modified":"2026-08-19T04:35:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T04:35:39","slug":"sen-darline-graham-admits-in-debate-national-security-is-not-my-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=10166","title":{"rendered":"Sen. Darline Graham admits in debate: \u2018National security is not my thing\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Interim GOP Sen. Darline Graham declined to answer a question about Taiwan and the South China Sea during a debate Tuesday night, saying national security is \u201cnot my thing.\u201d\n <\/p>

Read more Trump expected to pick Dr. Heidi Overton to lead FDA<\/a><\/p>\n

\n The awkward moment came during a debate with Rep. Ralph Norman, her opponent in next week\u2019s special primary runoff for Senate in South Carolina. Graham, who has President Donald Trump\u2019s support, is vying for a full term in the seat after the recent death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.\n <\/p>\n

\n A moderator, journalist Greta Van Susteren, asked Graham, \u201cAre Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? If so, why?\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Graham asked Van Susteren to repeat the question. She did, and Graham said she was \u201cjust going to be honest here.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI\u2019m not \u2026 that informed on national security, so \u2014 but I do support the military,\u201d she said, noting her brother served in the Air Force and her dad in the Army.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI\u2019m not a polished politician up here,\u201d Graham continued at the debate, hosted by South Carolina ETV and Public Radio. \u201cNational security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

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\nPresident Donald Trump boards Air Force One at the Hagerstown Regional Airport in Maryland, on July 31.<\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Anna Moneymaker\/Getty Images<\/figcaption>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\u2018Trump threw us all a curveball\u2019: South Carolina Republicans are stewing about Lindsey Graham\u2019s old Senate seat<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

10 min read<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n

\n Graham has previously said she would be different from her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, in the seat by focusing more on domestic issues.\n <\/p>

Read more Key takeaways from Tuesday\u2019s primaries in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Graham, 62, has not previously held elected office.\n <\/p>\n

\n In her short time in the Senate, Graham has sought to differentiate herself from her late brother by suggesting she is more focused on domestic issues as a working mom. But her flub on the debate stage could further fuel critics\u2019 claims that she is not ready for a full six-year term in the Senate.\n <\/p>\n

\n Taiwan is a democratic, self-governing island of 23 million residents. China\u2019s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it \u2014 and has long vowed to \u201cunify\u201d the island with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary, forcing US leaders to navigate diplomacy carefully over the issue.\n <\/p>\n

\n Van Susteren posed the question to Norman, who answered more confidently.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cTaiwan\u2019s a definite ally,\u201d he said, noting the trade relationship between Taiwan and the United States. He applauded Trump for \u201cenabling Taiwan to defend themselves against China.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n While Norman did not address Graham\u2019s answer on the debate stage, his supporters quickly highlighted it on social media. Among them was Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and longtime ally of Norman who ran against Trump in the 2024 primary.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cLindsey Graham was well informed on the United States\u2019 national security,\u201d Haley wrote on X. \u201cDarline Graham admits she\u2019s not. This is not something you inherit. And it\u2019s critical in the U.S. Senate.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Trump is set to host a rally for Graham on Friday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The runoff election is next Tuesday.\n <\/p>

Read more Meet Natalie Harp, the aide so close to Trump she once rode in an SUV trunk to accompany him<\/a><\/p>\n

\nThis story has been updated with additional details.<\/em>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Interim GOP Sen. Darline Graham declined to answer a question about Taiwan and the South China Sea during a debate Tuesday night, saying national security is \u201cnot my thing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"\nSen. Darline Graham admits in debate: \u2018National security is not my thing\u2019 - Relocation Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/relocationtimess.com\/?p=10166\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sen. 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