MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — President Trump made a final campaign stop in South Carolina on Friday, throwing his weight behind Sen. Darline Graham (R-S.C.) ahead of Tuesday's primary runoff and using the rally to press Republicans on the importance of showing up in November's midterms.
Speaking to a crowd in what Graham called “Trump country,” the president opened with a personal note, quipping that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham “respected Darline more than any other person he knows including me, and that does not make me happy.” The remark drew laughter and applause, underscoring the family ties that have defined Graham's short tenure in the Senate.
Trump took aim at Democratic Senate candidate Annie Andrews, labeling her “far left” without mentioning her by name. He also targeted Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed and Texas's James Talarico, both Democrats locked in competitive races against Trump-backed Republicans.
The president's central message was a call for Republican turnout, a known challenge in non-presidential cycles. “We have to make the midterm elections too big to rig,” he said, repeating his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. He urged supporters to “pretend, please, that I'm on the ballot,” acknowledging the difficulty of energizing the base without his name at the top of the ticket.
Trump also warned that a Democratic takeover of Congress would lead to his impeachment. “I'm going to be impeached. They're going to impeach me. They have no idea why,” he said, a familiar refrain that has become a staple of his rally speeches.
The president touched on non-campaign matters as well. He celebrated the Supreme Court's decision earlier Friday that allowed construction on the White House ballroom to proceed pending further review. “I'm in a very good mood tonight,” Trump said, referencing the ruling. He also reiterated his controversial stance on the Strait of Hormuz, declaring it a U.S. territory after previously floating annexation—a shift from military threats to economic pressure in his dealings with Tehran.
The runoff is a critical test of Trump's endorsement power. Graham, a political newcomer who was appointed to her brother's seat, faces Rep. Ralph Norman, a real estate developer and House member since 2017. Graham's campaign has leaned heavily on her family legacy and Trump's backing, but her debate performance earlier this week drew criticism when she fumbled a question on Taiwan and the South China Sea, saying national security “was not her thing.”
Trump defended her remarks, telling reporters before the rally, “She's very smart, and she was being honest. She's into the price of groceries. She is going to do what the military wants, and really what the president wants.” He added, “She understands that national security is my thing. I thought it was a very honest answer.”
Graham enters the runoff with structural advantages. Trump carried South Carolina by nearly 18 points in 2024, and the state's Senate race is rated as solid Republican by the Cook Political Report. However, national headwinds—Trump's approval rating sits at 42 percent in the state, according to Civiqs—and rising Democratic enthusiasm could complicate the general election.
The winner of Tuesday's runoff will face Andrews in November. Meanwhile, Republicans are watching closely to see whether Trump's coattails remain strong in a midterm environment where his influence is being tested. As the president continues to mobilize his political operation for the midterms, South Carolina will offer an early read on his sway.
