Former President Donald Trump arrived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on Friday to rally support for Sen. Darline Graham, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham. The event, held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, came as the Republican runoff between appointed Sen. Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman approaches, a contest that will test the weight of Trump’s endorsement in a pivotal state race.
Trump’s message to voters
During his 80‑minute speech, Trump repeatedly praised Graham, calling her a “very special person” and urging South Carolinians to “pretend” he is on the ballot this year. He argued that Republican turnout drops when he is not listed, saying, “When I’m not on the ballot, my people don’t come, and they don’t vote for senators, congressmen and other Republicans.” He asked supporters to treat his endorsement as a proxy for his presence on the ticket.
Trump also highlighted Graham’s focus on affordability, contrasting her with her late brother’s emphasis on foreign policy. He said, “She’s more about what we have, how much a loaf of bread is going to cost,” and pledged that she would prioritize the military.
Local reactions
Attendees expressed a range of responses. Tammy Botting, a Myrtle Beach resident, said she originally was not planning to vote for Graham but “did a little more research” after hearing Trump’s endorsement and now prefers Graham. Jeff Ross, also from the area, noted that “anybody that he backs seems to do very well.” Conversely, a local named Leonard described himself as a “free thinker” who intends to evaluate the candidates on their own merits.
Trump’s rally also featured his signature reading of the poem “The Snake,” which he framed as a parable about illegal immigration. He briefly mentioned the ongoing U.S. conflict with Iran, calling it “a little detour,” and blamed inflation on Democratic policies while promising that gas prices would soon fall.
Political stakes
The runoff is a litmus test for Trump’s influence in South Carolina, where several of his endorsed candidates have struggled in recent primaries. Behind the scenes, Trump has been contacting opponents of Graham to secure endorsements; Rep. Russell Fry eventually threw his support behind her after a phone call from the former president. Former Gov. Mark Sanford, however, announced his backing of Norman.
While Trump refrained from naming Norman directly, he framed the contest as a choice between Graham and a Democratic victory in November, underscoring the broader implications for the GOP’s congressional majority.
Looking ahead
With the primary runoff scheduled for Tuesday, the rally underscores the importance of voter turnout in midterm elections. Trump concluded by urging his supporters to remember that “when I’m not on the ballot, people don’t vote so much,” reinforcing his call for a strong Republican showing at the polls.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
