Trump Rallies for Lindsey Graham's Sister While Eroding His Russia Legacy
Trump rallies for Darline Graham days after waiving the Russia sanctions law her late brother Lindsey Graham fought to pass.
On Wednesday night, President Donald Trump rallied in Clemson, South Carolina, to support Senator Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham, amidst her political battle. This occurred five days after Trump froze the Russia sanctions law that Graham spent his last year in the Senate trying to pass. Graham, a Republican who Trump helped secure a Senate seat for, is currently in a closer race than anticipated, as Trump won the state by nearly 18 points in 2024.
Graham expressed her disagreement with Trump's decision to suspend the sanctions bill, stating that she would prefer to maintain pressure on Russia due to her distrust of Vladimir Putin. Graham, who passed away unexpectedly on July 11 at 71, introduced the sanctions bill in April 2025, calling it an "economic bunker buster" aimed at Russia and its allies. The measure, renamed in her honor, passed the Senate 86-11 and the House 262-159 before being signed into law by Trump on September 18.
Despite the law's provisions, Trump waived the sanctions on October 16, citing national security concerns, and set no end date. Graham plans to discuss the issue with Trump during his visit to South Carolina. Her Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, is making her first run for Senate, while Libertarian Kasie Whitener is also on the ballot. Recent polls show Graham leading by a narrow margin, but experts caution against taking the close poll results too seriously.
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