President Donald Trump defended Republican South Carolina Senator Darline Graham after she faced backlash over her response to a question about Taiwan and national security during a Republican Senate debate this week. Ahead of a campaign event for Graham in Myrtle Beach on Friday, Trump called her response “very honest” and said she was “very smart.” Graham, who was appointed to the Senate seat following the death of her brother, longtime Senator Lindsey Graham, drew criticism during Tuesday’s debate when she acknowledged that she was “not that informed" on national security. The exchange came as she was asked about the U.S. national security interest in Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Her comments prompted criticism from her Republican opponent, Representative Ralph Norman, as well as other conservatives. Trump sought to shift the focus from Graham’s lack of foreign-policy experience, saying she is focused on issues such as grocery prices and would follow the guidance of the military and the president on national security. He also emphasized that national security is his "thing." "She's into the price of groceries, the price of food, the price of beef," Trump said.
"It hasn't been her thing but she's surrounded by very good people," Trump added. The rally comes just days before South Carolina Republicans vote in the August 25 runoff between Graham and Norman. Graham finished first in the initial Republican primary with roughly 33 percent of the vote, while Norman received about 25 percent, setting up a contest in which Trump is making his support for Graham a central part of her campaign.
Speaking at the rally on Friday evening, Graham said, "Critics say I shouldn't run for the Senate, they say I'm not a politician. And by the way, President Trump had never served in an elected office before, and I think he's done a d*** good job." The White House, meanwhile, is promoting Trump’s record in South Carolina ahead of the visit, highlighting tax cuts, border security, crime and energy policies as examples of what it describes as the administration’s “America First” agenda. This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.
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