Exclusive Interview: Senator Darlene Graham on Carrying Forward Her Brother Lindsey Graham’s Legacy
Introduction and Context of the Interview
We begin tonight in Columbia, South Carolina, where earlier today I sat down with Senator Darlene Graham for her very first TV interview since the passing of her brother, the late great Senator Lindsey Graham, and her appointment to fill his seat through the end of this term. We have covered a wide range of topics including her future plans in the state, with President Trump now encouraging her to run for her brother’s open seat in the U.S. Senate.
Emotional Impact and Early Days After the Loss
Senator Darlene Graham, it is an honor to have you sit down with us today. I wish for you and for Lindsey, my friend, under better circumstances. It is hard to believe it has only been a week. What a whirlwind week you’ve had now with — how are you holding up?
I’m just taking it day by day. I’m not going to lie, it has been tough. Extremely tough. Lots of prayers, heartfelt messages from friends and family, colleagues. Really got me through this week.
Yeah, still a lot. One funeral service, you have two. You described Lindsey, who I was very close to. We talked late into the night often about everything. Whether we agreed or disagreed, we had the best conversations and he had a wicked sense of humor.
Childhood Tragedy and Lindsey’s Role as Brother, Mother, and Father
I think we really have to start with both of you are alike in a lot of ways. It was tragic how you lost your mom to cancer, not long after you lost your dad. You were only 13 years old. He was 21. And he described Lindsey as brother, mother and father. Explain that?
Like you said, we had some tragedies. Our mother passed away, I was 11, three days before my birthday. So that was extremely tough. Just over a year later we lost our father tragically, suddenly. And so Lindsey had to become everything to me. I remember when it happened, he took me in his arms, he hugged me and said don’t worry, I will take care of you. And I believed him. I knew that was going to be true, the case. But it was very difficult. And here at that point I’m 13 years old, so he is my father figure. I don’t want to say he is my mother. I am a young lady transitioning into a young adult. There are things that he had to take on that some would never dream of. He was everything. He was my rock. He was my brother, my mother and my father.
Still in many ways he was a kid himself. What was he like in that leadership role? Because he did step up.
He did. He was really strong. At one point he said I will quit school, I will come home, I will run the liquor store and the house. And I said he cannot do that. That is not what our parents would have wanted. He was the first in our family to go to college and we were so proud of him. My mother was so proud of him. So I said you can’t. So I went to a nearby town to live with an aunt and uncle, but Lindsey came home every weekend, every weekend. He called throughout the week. If I wanted to go to the movies with a friend I would call Lindsey, he would get me money to go. He truly was my parent.
Yeah. For your mom it was a no-go zone. No way. She was beyond proud. I remember when he would come home from Columbia he would ride the bus, and she would get so excited. She was like Lindsey is coming home! And I would run down the street to the bus stop and greet him. Great days.
The Sudden Loss and Rapid Timeline of Events
It is hard to believe where you were a week ago. Because you were just absorbing this day, the magnitude of losing your brother. I actually went through the timeline of it all, and wow, I mean I don’t know anybody who ever had that role within a week. Saturday night you find out he is sick, Sunday, by midnight at least he has passed on.
Yes. Let’s talk about the conversations. He talked to you on Sunday, the night after Lindsey passed away — Governor McMaster, Senator Scott, elected officials, President Trump, everybody I’m sure you weren’t expecting.
It was just unbelievable. It was like I was living a nightmare when I got the unexpected news. I can’t even tell you how devastated I was when I got the call. It was so hard. But from there, things just started moving so fast. Like you said I got the call from the President, and the Governor, Tim Scott, just thoughtful messages, how much they respected him, true friendship. And then the question, would I serve? And I was just shocked. It never occurred to me that that — that was Lindsay’s life, not mine. Nothing I ever wanted to be a politician or a senator. When they asked, it did not take me long. I prayed, I talked to my family. I knew that I had to step up. I had to carry on his legacy.
In other words you just felt at that moment an unexpected calling that you never dreamed of?
Absolutely.
Lindsey Graham’s Close Friendship with President Trump
So you get to Monday. There was nobody in the House or Senate that was closer to President Trump and spent more time with President Trump than your brother.
Correct.
And I know how much that meant to him. And I know how often he talked about it. He talked about that a lot with you as well.
He did. I knew from Lindsey, I knew that he had developed a friendship. But the President confirmed that, said he was like a family member. So that really meant a lot to me.
Appointment, Swearing-In, and Inner Calling
There is a timeline that gets obviously out of your control, very quickly. And the President puts out Monday, again, just a little over 24 hours to deal with this a week ago. I recommended to Governor Henry McMaster that Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister Darlene to serve as the interim senator for the great state of South Carolina. It would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey who loved her dearly.
Talk about when you first heard that idea. What was your initial reaction? You have a daughter that is a senior in high school.
She is 17. It was a shock because it never entered my mind that I would be asked that question. So it took me a minute to process it. Like I said it did not take long to realize that I felt just this inner calling. It has to be God’s plan. It has to be God’s plan. I had to carry on his legacy. And I know how much the people of South Carolina meant to him, serving our country meant to him, and I have been serving the people of South Carolina for almost 30 years in my position.
Now if you fast forward, it is Tuesday. You are with Henry McMaster and he makes the announcement, and now you have to speak before the nation. Again, not a lot of time to really absorb what is happening. The timeline is moving quickly. You’re talking to a governor asking you to do it, you’re talking to the President of our country asking you to do it. You have to make a decision. Then the next thing you know you’re being sworn into the United States Senate, and now you are a United States Senator. That is a fast timeline.
Very fast timeline.
How does that moment — because I watched you, I was actually stunned at the poise and grace. When you were sworn in and you spoke about your brother, and the passion that came out behind it, you can feel it. Was that a tough moment for you?
It was tough. It was very tough. I prayed about it, I had support from my family. Like I said earlier, I had an inner peace about it. It is just something I knew I had to do. I had to carry on Lindsey’s legacy. I had to do it for him.
Lindsey’s Own Words About His Sister
I actually went back and I found your brother did this on C-SPAN in 2015, when he was running for president. This is what he said: “Of all the things that have happened in my life, Darlene, my sister, turning out so well is the highest of it by far.” Then he went on to say that if he were to win, what role would she play in the White House? She would be a support for me. Thirteen is so young to lose both her parents. At the end of the day whatever I asked her to do she would do. If she took on a role she would be a great representative of our country. I cannot think of a better person to represent our country than my sister.
You know I don’t know Sean, I just know that I have to trust that God has a plan. I never wanted this. This was my brother’s life. He worked so hard for the people of South Carolina and our country. And I was so proud of him. That if God has put me in the position, I will do it. I will take on the challenge. Lindsey was always there for me and now I feel like I have to step up and be there for him.
Meeting at the Oval Office and President Trump’s Endorsement
I will have to continue with your role one week, Senator. On Tuesday. On Thursday you are in the Oval Office.
Yes. I am maybe guessing your brother took you to the Oval Office before.
I have been there one time to a ceremony.
Now the President is asking you, inviting you into the Oval Office. My understanding is you were met by the President, Vice President, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. That is a who’s who of Washington. Bring us into that meeting?
I think it went very well because the President was very sincere in his condolences about Lindsey. He talked about what a good friend he was, how he considered him family. And I told him how much I appreciated all that he has done and how they worked together. And I went on to mention there were some things I felt like were very important to Lindsey — Russia sanctions — and I really wanted to push those across the finish line.
You really shared the same values as your brother. He followed his career very closely.
And I met your wonderful husband, and you have a shared passion for Waffle House. Can’t go to South Carolina and not go to Waffle House. We talked more about Waffle House than anything else.
And now, if that week wasn’t whirlwind enough, by Thursday or Friday, the President puts out: It was my honor to welcome Senator Darlene Graham, sister of the late, great Lindsey Graham, from the wonderful state of South Carolina, into the Oval Office. We have known each other a long time. She is a spectacular person, and a true American patriot. Lindsey was one of the greatest people, senators have ever known and his sister shares our deep love of our country and the state of South Carolina. And I asked Darlene, for the good of our nation, to run for the U.S. Senate in the special Republican primary, which will take place not far away, August 11th. His funeral is the 28th of July, 2026. No pressure from President Trump. I hope Darlene does this, and there would be nobody better to honor the legacy of her beloved brother, Lindsey. And Darlene comes from an absolutely incredible family, a winner her whole life. Should she accept, she would have my complete and total endorsement in the special election for the U.S. Senate in South Carolina. She will never let you down. Run Darlene, Darlene.
Were you expecting that?
No I was not.
Current Decision and Commitment to Serve
So now you are faced with — I don’t know, it is kind of hard to find people that don’t know Donald Trump as well as I do. I have known him for 30 years. If he asks for something, it’s hard to say no to the President.
Yes.
Have you thought about that aspect of this?
I have given it a lot of thought. I have prayed on it, talked to my family, Lindsey’s staff. He has a wonderful hard working staff.
They are all staying with you?
They are all staying with me and supporting me, which means so much to me. Such an honor. Lindsey loved them. They are like family so absolutely.
So the good news is, you have a huge infrastructure for constituent services already built in, you inherited from your brother. That has to give you some peace.
It does. It reassures me that I feel like I can do this. It was such an honor. It was comfortable. And I told him two things. I said I can tell you this about me, I will work hard.
What’s interesting is part of it is a good thing. I think part of it, in your circumstances, it makes it triple harder that like the idea, if God forbid the state loses a senator, they deserve representation.
Absolutely. Now they have it in you, with Lindsey’s full staff in place. That is good news for the people of South Carolina.
I am so fortunate to have these staff. They are bringing me up to speed. They are right by my side working hard. It has been hard. I cannot tell how much I appreciate them.
The President again saying I hope Darlene does this. Meaning I hope you will run. And here is the filing deadline for people that don’t know. This is the law of South Carolina. The filing begins tomorrow. I think you have a week?
Yes.
And by that time the primary will have taken place.
I know.
And the President putting an ask on you, let’s put it that way, it’s a lot of pressure.
It is a tremendous amount of pressure.
Tell me what’s going through your head about it. Where do you stand now?
I will continue to say I have been praying a lot, talking to my family. But with the love of my family, with the support of his staff, I know I am a hard worker. I learned that from Lindsey. He cared about the people of this state. I have worked for almost 30 years for the people of this state.
I feel like I can do it. I feel an inner peace about it. Will it be difficult? Yes, absolutely.
Have you even made a final decision?
I have made a decision.
You are in?
I am in. I cannot see it any other way. I just can’t. I thought and I prayed, and he has worked so hard for so long. I can’t just let that die. I have to step in and carry on his legacy. I know he cared about the people of South Carolina so deeply. He worked so hard for them. And I feel like I can do that too. He taught me well. I learned a lot from Lindsey.
You were involved in every campaign.
Every campaign yes.
Thank God you were because your odds were much better than his. You have to go through this period where you will be very busy. The time frame is brutal.
