Trump Backs Graham’s Sister Darline for South Carolina Senate Seat
Trump urges Governor Henry McMaster to name Lindsey Graham's sister as interim senator, calling the move a tribute to the senator she loved.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump recommended that South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster appoint Darline, the sister of Lindsey Graham, to fill an interim seat as United States senator from the state.
Trump framed the recommendation as a personal gesture, saying the appointment would honor Graham, the veteran South Carolina Republican who long ranked among the Senate’s most prominent voices on foreign policy and judicial confirmations. Trump cast the choice as an emotional one rather than a strategic calculation, tying it directly to Graham’s affection for his sister.
Here is the full post on Truth Social: “I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina. This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly! Trump” on July 13, 2026 at 10:43 AM ET.
This is the latest message released by Trump today. On average, Trump produces roughly 17 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The recommendation carries stakes for South Carolina’s political establishment. An interim appointment would hand the chosen individual an immediate platform, incumbency, and national attention ahead of any special election. McMaster, a Republican who has led the state since 2017, holds the sole appointment power and would decide whether to follow the recommendation.
Interim Senate appointments have shaped American politics for generations. Governors have used them to reward loyalists, honor families, and steady a state’s representation during a vacancy. The practice traces to the 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, which allowed state legislatures to empower governors to fill Senate vacancies until an election.
For the average South Carolina voter, an interim senator would cast votes on federal legislation, confirmations, and spending until a permanent replacement wins election. The appointment would give one of the state’s two Senate seats to a newcomer without a statewide vote, at least temporarily.
Has this happened before? Yes, family members have stepped into Senate seats before. Governors have named widows and relatives of departing officials as a mark of respect throughout the 20th century. Such appointments have often served as bridges to a later special election.
The next decision rests with Governor McMaster, who alone holds the constitutional authority to name an interim senator for South Carolina. A date for that decision has not been announced.
Honoring a departed colleague through family appointments is a recurring theme in Senate history. Allies of Senator Huey Long of Louisiana moved to preserve his political machine through hand-picked successors after his assassination in 1935 (see britannica.com). Decades earlier, Arkansas Governor Harvey Parnell appointed Hattie Caraway in 1931 after her husband’s death, and she went on to become the first woman elected to the Senate in her own right in 1932 (see britannica.com). Those appointments showed that a gesture of tribute could reshape a state’s representation for years.
In the last 30 days, 23 of 521 Trump posts centered on personal praise, greetings, and tributes.
Source: Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Note: Chart generated on July 13, 2026 at 10:49 AM ET
Source: Zenger analysis
Note: Table generated by https://zenger.news on July 13, 2026 at 10:49 AM ET