Days before South Carolinians choose who will replace Lindsey Graham for the GOP on the November ballot, President Donald Trump stopped in Myrtle Beach to rally support for his chosen U.S. Senate candidate and other Republicans in the state ahead of the midterms.

U.S. Sen. Darline Graham and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman are competing in the U.S. Senate special primary runoff for the Republican nomination. Trump endorsed Graham before she announced her bid in July.

In a more than hourlong speech at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which began with the president telling attendees he would return and compete against the best golfer in the city if Graham won, Trump encouraged South Carolinians to vote in the special runoff Tuesday and midterm election in November.

He also briefly reflected on his relationship with Graham’s older brother, the late Lindsey Graham, who Trump eulogized in his Washington, D.C., funeral last month.

“I’m doing this to honor Lindsey,” Trump said. “That’s why I’m here.”

The runoff election is Aug. 25, and polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Early voting ended Friday at 5 p.m.

Here are five takeaways from Trump’s South Carolina campaign stop, his first since winning the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

Trump talks Graham — and ballroom and crime and midterms

Trump’s long speech was far-reaching, and he covered topics like Graham’s candidacy, the upcoming midterms, the planned White House ballroom, the cost of living and immigration, including a reading of the song “The Snake.”

He spoke of his support for Graham throughout the hour-and-20-minute speech but opined more about his policy priorities and accomplishments and the stakes for Republicans in the midterm elections.

“What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said. “Just come and vote ... Because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border. You’re going to lose your tax cuts. You’re going to lose everything that we’ve done.”

He also brought Graham and other members of Congress on the rally stage at different points.

SC, Senate leaders join Trump to support Graham

South Carolina Republican leaders also supported Graham in the rally Friday, while drumming up support for their own campaigns. First Congressional District Republican nominee Jenny Costa Honeycutt, commissioner of Agriculture nominee Cody Simpson, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and U.S. Rep. Russell Fry all took the stage Friday and told attendees to vote for Graham.

U.S. Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, also spoke in support of Graham. He campaigned with the appointed senator earlier in the week. Outgoing press secretary Karoline Leavitt was brought on stage during Trump’s speech.

“We must stand united behind Donald J. Trump, and it starts with voting for Darline Graham on Tuesday,” Scott said. “Call your friends, email your neighbors, even call your ugly cousins. We got to get this done.”

Gov. Henry McMaster, who endorsed Graham shortly before the rally, did not speak, but attended.

Graham slams Norman, but Trump doesn’t

Graham took the stage before Trump and repeated several of her regular campaign points, including her opposition to transgender athletes and illegal immigration, and focus on affordability.

She also slammed Norman, telling the crowd he didn’t get anything done while serving in Congress and that he stood in the way of Trump’s agenda. Norman previously said he supports Trump and has a conservative voting record.

“We already have enough problem Democrats. We don’t need a problem Republican,” Graham said Friday.

But Trump did not mention Norman at all. The president briefly told voters to oppose Annie Andrews, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, but did not speak about Graham’s primary opponent. If Norman wins the nomination and seat in November, the Trump administration will likely need the congressman’s support during his last two years in office.

Trump encouraged South Carolinians to vote in the runoff Tuesday.

“I will be watching all day long,” Trump said. “I want that to happen. For Lindsey, I want it to happen.”

Is I-73 going to receive federal funding?

The president seemed to tell attendees a long sought highway connecting Myrtle Beach to Interstate 95 will receive federal funding, though few specifics were offered.

“It’s coming out of Washington, and it’s all ready to be finalized and funded,” Trump told attendees.

“We’re going to get your tremendous roadway project done,” he later continued. “It’s all funded. It’s all ready to go.”

The South Carolina General Assembly voted to name the yet-to-be-built highway for Trump earlier this year.

First in-person Trump visit in SC this cycle

Trump campaigned in South Carolina for this first time this election cycle for Graham. He did not campaign in-person for South Carolina candidates ahead of the regular June 9 primaries.

Trump endorsed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in a competitive governor primary but only campaigned with her in a telephone rally and later co-endorsed her and her opponent in a runoff.

The president’s in-person support for Graham boosts her campaign more so than his other endorsements in the state, political watchers say.

Trump has also campaigned less nationwide in 2026 than previous years.

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