Donald Trump rallies in South Carolina for Darline Graham ahead of Senate primary runoff

Rally in Myrtle Beach

Donald Trump campaigned in South Carolina on Friday, holding a roughly 80-minute address at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center to boost Senator Darline Graham ahead of Tuesday's Republican primary runoff. Trump instructed the crowd to view Graham as a direct proxy for his political platform, urging voters to pretend his name was directly on the ballot. Graham was appointed to the United States Senate by Governor Henry McMaster following the death of her older brother, Lindsey Graham, who represented South Carolina in Congress for 31 years before dying at 71 from an aortic dissection. During his speech, Trump praised Graham's focus on pocketbook issues and the Second Amendment while invoking his personal bond with her late brother.

Trump told the audience:

We're going to elect Senator Darline Graham to fight, fight, fight for South Carolina and to always put America first. You vote for her, you're going to be very proud of that vote.

Debate remark and rally interruption

The campaign stop followed a televised primary debate earlier in the week where Graham faced scrutiny after stating that she was "not that informed" on national security matters. Her political background remains brief, having entered public office after McMaster tapped her to finish the remainder of her brother's term through January. Lindsey Graham had adopted Darline when she was 13 and he was 22 following the death of their parents. Approximately 20 minutes into Friday's address, a male protester wearing a black shirt reading "Kill Your Local Pedophile" stood up in the audience to disrupt the event. Security escorted the man from the hall as attendees booed and chanted, prompting Trump to joke from the podium that the demonstrator's mother would vote for his campaign.

Addressing the demonstration, Trump remarked:

That person's going home to mom, gonna get scolded because mom is voting for us. You know, mom is on it.

Endorsement record and Supreme Court reaction

Trump also used the appearance to comment on a recent Supreme Court development, noting that Chief Justice John Roberts had issued a ruling enabling work to proceed on a White House ballroom project. The South Carolina runoff represents a significant test for Trump's endorsement record within the Republican Party. Republican voters have rejected 10 Trump-endorsed candidates for Congress or statewide office during the current primary season. Recent primary defeats include gubernatorial candidate Pamela Evette in South Carolina, Mike Lindell in Minnesota, a gubernatorial choice in Wyoming, and two congressional contenders in Florida, alongside earlier primary losses in Georgia, Michigan, and Iowa.

In South Carolina's gubernatorial primary, Trump had initially backed Lieutenant Governor Evette before also endorsing state Attorney General Alan Wilson shortly before the runoff, where Wilson defeated Evette. Graham now faces Republican voters on Tuesday in her bid to secure the party nomination for a full six-year term in the Senate.