The internet is reacting to Sen. Darline Graham, R-South Carolina, being asked a national security question during a debate.
Graham was appointed to her late brother Lindsey Graham’s Senate seat following his sudden passing in July 2026, despite critics arguing that she is unqualified to be a lawmaker. With President Donald Trump’s endorsement, Graham is running for the seat against Rep. Ralph Norman, but those specifically worried about her national security chops may feel vindicated after Tuesday night’s debate.
Watch:
Moderator: Senator, are Taiwan and the South China sea national security issues for the United States and if so, why?
Darline Graham: National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise but I support the military. pic.twitter.com/F0FEFmc6GW
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 19, 2026
Co-moderator Greta Van Susteren asked her to elaborate on whether she thought Taiwan and the South China Sea are national security concerns for the country.
“I’m just gonna be honest here. I’m not, on national security– I’m not that informed on national security, so– but I do support the military,” Graham said. “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 support the military.”
Norman’s response was more polished, but not exactly more detailed.
“Taiwan’s a definite ally. What the president is doing right is, he’s enabling Taiwan to defend themselves against China. But it’s peace through strength he’s showing with Iran that China, Russia, and others are looking at it so they don’t want to deal with America. And that’s why they haven’t attacked Taiwan. If they had a weak Democrat in office like Biden or another Obama, yeah, they’d take it over. But we can’t let that happen,” he said.
X users jumped on the clip:
We’ll see was honest. Norman’s answer wasn’t much better
— kevin tivnan (@KevinTivnan) August 19, 2026
She’s the epitome of incompetence. She should be nowhere near the senate.
— Reggie B. (@reggiebblue) August 19, 2026
Wow. Running for senate and can’t answer a question on national security other than to say I support the military. TF are we doing here?
— Jay (@Mandelay_Jay) August 19, 2026
How can you run for a U.S. senate seat and not know about national security? And not have any curiosity about it?
— Lemon Poundcake (@susanmathai) August 19, 2026
Her area of expertise is being related to someone who died.
— DOOM IS DILIGENT (@DOOM2020ORBUST) August 19, 2026
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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