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Published On: Wed, Aug 19th, 2026

Sen. Darlene Graham at S.C. GOP Primary Debate: “I’m Not That Informed on National Security”

Sen. Darlene Graham said she does not share her late brother’s interest in foreign policy during a debate for the 2026 South Carolina Senate nomination. “I’m not that informed on national security,” she said during a debate with rival Rep. Ralph Norman.

GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: National security questions. Well, Senator, are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? If so, why? SEN. DARLENE GRAHAM: I’m sorry, could you repeat the question? GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? And if so, why or how? SEN. DARLENE GRAHAM: I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not on national security. I’m not that informed on national security, so. 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. GRETA VAN SUSTEREN: Congressman, I’ll give you a chance to respond. [UNIDENTIFIED CONGRESSMAN]: And I’m sure he recognizes that Taiwan’s a definite ally. And, you know, we have a trading relationship with them that is beneficial to the United States, chips being one of them and others. So what the president is doing right is he’s enabling Taiwan to defend themselves against China. But it’s peace through strength that he’s showing with Iran that China, Russia, others are looking at it so that they don’t want to deal with America, and that’s why they haven’t attacked Taiwan. If they had some weak Democrat in office like Biden or another Obama, yeah, they’d take it over. But we can’t let that happen. We gotta take-take a strong-peace through strength is working.

Here’s last night’s full debate:
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