Lindsey Graham's Sister Admits Lack of National Security Expertise in Senate Debate

Darline Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, acknowledged during a South Carolina GOP Senate debate that she is "not that informed on national security." The admission came in response to a moderator's question regarding whether Taiwan and the South China Sea constitute national security issues for the United States.

"I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security," Graham stated during the debate, held ahead of the South Carolina GOP Senate runoff. "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, who was appointed to the Senate by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, faces Rep. Ralph Norman in the upcoming runoff. President Donald Trump has endorsed her candidacy.

The remarks drew criticism on social media. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley commented on X, formerly Twitter, that Lindsey Graham was well-informed on national security, contrasting it with Darline Graham's admission. "This is not something you inherit. And it’s critical in the U.S. Senate," Haley wrote.

Following the debate, Graham told reporters that South Carolinians are "worried about their pocketbooks more than they’re worried about the South China Sea, quite honestly," according to The Post and Courier.

This is not the first instance of Graham appearing to downplay the focus on foreign policy. In a July interview on Fox News’ "Hannity," she recalled urging her brother to concentrate more on what she described as the everyday issues facing voters, such as groceries, gas, and health care, rather than solely national security matters.

During the same debate, Graham also misstated the population of South Carolina, asserting that the state is home to 50 million residents when its population is approximately five million. This remark also drew criticism, including from Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C.