Trump Defends ‘Honest’ Darline Graham After Debate Flop, Says ‘She’s Very Smart’

President Donald Trump is standing firmly behind South Carolina Sen. Darline Graham after her widely criticized Republican primary debate performance, defending her admission that she was “not that informed on national security” as an example of honesty rather than disqualification.

Trump made the comments Friday while traveling to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he was scheduled to campaign for Graham ahead of her Aug. 25 Republican Senate primary runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman. Graham is seeking a full six-year term after being appointed to the seat previously held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham.

“All she was is being honest. She’s very smart, and she was being honest,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. He argued that Graham has concentrated more heavily on domestic concerns such as grocery, food and beef prices rather than foreign policy.

Trump acknowledged that national security has not traditionally been Graham’s area of expertise but said she would have knowledgeable advisers surrounding her. He also emphasized her support for the military and suggested she would work closely with both military leadership and the White House on major security decisions.

The president went further by describing national security as primarily his responsibility. “She understands that national security is my thing,” Trump said while calling Graham a “terrific woman” and reiterating his support for her candidacy.

Graham came under intense scrutiny following a debate this week when she was questioned about the importance of Taiwan and the South China Sea to American national security. “I’m not that informed on national security,” she responded before adding that the subject was “not my thing” and “not my area of expertise.”

The answer provided Norman and Graham’s other critics with an opening to question whether she is prepared for the foreign-policy responsibilities that come with serving in the Senate. The controversy was particularly notable because her late brother was known throughout his Senate career for his extensive involvement in military and foreign-policy issues.

Graham was appointed to Lindsey Graham’s vacant seat by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on July 14 at Trump’s urging. She subsequently entered the special election seeking a full term and received the president’s endorsement.

Despite Trump’s backing, Graham failed to capture the majority necessary to avoid a runoff in the Aug. 11 Republican primary. She finished first with 32.7% of the vote, while Norman received 24.6% and Rep. Russell Fry finished third with 19.7%.

That makes Fry’s former supporters potentially decisive in Tuesday’s runoff. Trump’s decision to campaign in Myrtle Beach is particularly significant because northeastern South Carolina strongly supported Fry during the first round, giving both remaining candidates an incentive to win over those voters.

Trump’s appearance demonstrates how invested he has become in keeping Graham in the Senate. Rather than distancing himself following her debate stumble, the president is attempting to transform one of her biggest vulnerabilities into an asset by portraying her willingness to admit what she does not know as refreshing political honesty.

With only days remaining before the runoff, Graham now has Trump personally campaigning to rescue her candidacy. The president’s message to South Carolina Republicans is straightforward: her national security answer may have been politically damaging, but he believes her honesty, domestic priorities and willingness to follow strong military advice make her worthy of a full Senate term.