(CNN) — Interim GOP Sen. Darline Graham declined to answer a question about Taiwan and the South China Sea during a debate Tuesday night, saying national security is “not my thing.”
The awkward moment came during a debate with Rep. Ralph Norman, her opponent in next week’s special primary runoff for Senate in South Carolina. Graham, who has President Donald Trump’s support, is vying for a full term in the seat after the recent death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.
A moderator, journalist Greta Van Susteren, asked Graham, “Are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States? If so, why?”
Graham asked Van Susteren to repeat the question. She did, and Graham said she was “just going to be honest here.”
“I’m not … that informed on national security, so — but I do support the military,” she said, noting her brother served in the Air Force and her dad in the Army.
“I’m not a polished politician up here,” Graham continued at the debate, hosted by South Carolina ETV and Public Radio. “National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.”
Graham has previously said she would be different from her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, in the seat by focusing more on domestic issues.
Graham, 62, has not previously held elected office.
In her short time in the Senate, Graham has sought to differentiate herself from her late brother by suggesting she is more focused on domestic issues as a working mom. But her flub on the debate stage could further fuel critics’ claims that she is not ready for a full six-year term in the Senate.
Taiwan is a democratic, self-governing island of 23 million residents. China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) views Taiwan as part of its territory, despite having never controlled it — and has long vowed to “unify” the island with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary, forcing US leaders to navigate diplomacy carefully over the issue.
Van Susteren posed the question to Norman, who answered more confidently.
“Taiwan’s a definite ally,” he said, noting the trade relationship between Taiwan and the United States. He applauded Trump for “enabling Taiwan to defend themselves against China.”
While Norman did not address Graham’s answer on the debate stage, his supporters quickly highlighted it on social media. Among them was Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and longtime ally of Norman who ran against Trump in the 2024 primary.
“Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States’ national security,” Haley wrote on X. “Darline Graham admits she’s not. This is not something you inherit. And it’s critical in the U.S. Senate.”
Graham faced questions about her remarks on the campaign trail Wednesday, with a voter asking how constituents could trust her to make decisions on national security issues in the Senate.
“That’s a fair question, right, but you know I answered it honestly. Because I’m not a national security expert,” she said before suggesting South Carolinians were more concerned with domestic issues. “I’ve walked around this room and asked people, ‘Are y’all concerned about Taiwan?’ You know what they said? No. They’re concerned about the price of groceries, the price of gas, rising health care costs.”
“Is national security important? Absolutely. Can I learn? I’m smart. Yes, I’ll learn. I’ll become informed. Everybody has a first day on the job,” Graham added, before noting that Trump was once a newcomer to politics as well.
The president is set to host a rally for Graham on Friday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The runoff election is next Tuesday.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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