'I CAN DO THIS': Darline Graham addresses brother Lindsey’s death, her political future

[0:00] BUT WE DO BEGIN TONIGHT IN [0:01] COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE [0:03] EARLIER TODAY I SAT DOWN WITH [0:05] SENATOR DARLENE GRAHAM FOR HER [0:07] VERY FIRST TV INTERVIEW SINCE THE [0:09] PASSING OF HER BROTHER, THE LATE [0:11] GREAT SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM, AND [0:14] HER APPOINTMENT TO FILL HIS SEAT [0:16] THROUGH THE END OF THIS TERM. [0:18] NOW WE COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF [0:19] TOPICS, INCLUDING HER FUTURE [0:21] PLANS IN THE PALMETTO STATE AFTER [0:24] PRESIDENT TRUMP NOW ENCOURAGING [0:25] HER TO RUN FOR HER BROTHER'S OPEN [0:27] SEAT IN THE U.S. SENATE. [0:29] TAKE A LOOK. [0:31] SENATOR DARLENE GRAHAM, IT'S AN [0:34] HONOR TO HAVE YOU SIT DOWN WITH US [0:37] TODAY. [0:38] I WISH FOR YOU AND FOR LINDSEY, MY [0:40] FRIEND, UNDER BETTER CIRCUMSTANCES, [0:43] IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S ONLY [0:46] BEEN A WEEK, AND WHAT A WHIRLWIND [0:49] WEEK YOU HAVE NOW LIVED. [0:51] HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP? [0:54] I'M JUST TAKING IT DAY BY DAY. [0:56] I'M NOT GOING TO LIE, IT'S BEEN [0:57] TOUGH, EXTREMELY TOUGH. [1:00] LOTS OF PRAYERS, HEARTFELT MESSAGES [1:03] FROM FRIENDS AND FAMILY, COLLEAGUES [1:06] REALLY GOT ME THROUGH THIS WEEK. [1:08] YEAH, AND THERE'S STILL A LOT TO GO. [1:11] OH, YEAH. [1:12] YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, YOU DON'T HAVE [1:14] ONE FUNERAL SERVICE, YOU HAVE TWO. [1:16] YOU KNOW, YOU DESCRIBE LINDSEY, [1:19] WELL, I WAS VERY CLOSE TO, I DON'T [1:21] KNOW TO THE EXTENT YOU KNOW, BUT WE [1:23] TALK LATE INTO THE NIGHT, OFTEN, [1:25] ABOUT EVERYTHING, WHETHER WE AGREED [1:29] OR DISAGREED, AND WE HAD THE BEST [1:30] CONVERSATIONS, AND WE HAD A WICKED [1:32] SENSE OF HUMOR. [1:34] AND I THINK WE REALLY HAVE TO START [1:37] WITH, YOU KNOW, BOTH OF YOU HAD A [1:40] LIFE IN A LOT OF WAYS THAT WAS TRAGIC. [1:42] YOU LOST YOUR MOM TO CANCER, NOT [1:48] LONG AFTER YOU LOST YOUR DAD, YOU'RE [1:49] ONLY 13 YEARS OLD, HE'S 21, AND YOU [1:54] DESCRIBE LINDSEY AS BROTHER, [1:57] MOTHER, AND FATHER, EXPLAIN THAT. [2:01] WELL, LIKE YOU SAID, WE HAD SOME [2:03] TRAGEDIES, OUR MOTHER PASSED AWAY, [2:04] I WAS 11, IT WAS THREE DAYS BEFORE [2:07] MY BIRTHDAY, SO THAT WAS EXTREMELY [2:10] TOUGH, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST OVER A [2:13] YEAR LATER WE LOST OUR FATHER. [2:15] TRAGICALLY, SUDDENLY, AND SO LINDSEY [2:18] HAD TO BECOME EVERYTHING TO ME. [2:19] I CAN REMEMBER WHEN IT HAPPENED, [2:22] HE TOOK ME IN HIS ARMS, HE HUGGED [2:25] ME, HE SAID, DON'T WORRY, I'M GOING [2:27] TO TAKE CARE OF YOU. [2:28] AND I BELIEVED HIM, I KNEW THAT WAS [2:31] GOING TO BE TRUE, THE CASE, BUT IT [2:34] WAS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT. [2:36] AND HERE AT THAT POINT, I'M 13 YEARS [2:39] OLD, SO HE'S MY FATHER FIGURE, AND [2:43] WHEN I SAY HE'S MY MOTHER, I'M A [2:45] YOUNG LADY TRANSITIONING INTO A [2:48] YOUNG ADULT, SO THERE'S THINGS [2:49] THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAD TO TAKE ON [2:51] THAT SOMEONE HIS AGE WOULD NEVER [2:53] DREAM OF, SO HE WAS EVERYTHING. [2:57] HE WAS MY ROCK. [2:58] HE WAS MY BROTHER, MY MOTHER, [3:01] AND MY FATHER. [3:02] HE WAS STILL IN MANY WAYS A KID [3:04] HIMSELF. [3:05] ABSOLUTELY. [3:05] I MEAN, 21, YOU'RE JUST BEGINNING [3:07] TO FIND YOURSELF IN LIFE. [3:10] WHAT WAS HE LIKE IN THAT LEADERSHIP [3:12] ROLE? [3:13] BECAUSE HE DID STEP UP. [3:14] HE DID. [3:15] WHAT WAS HE LIKE? [3:16] HE WAS VERY STRONG. [3:18] I MEAN, AT ONE POINT, HE SAID, I'LL [3:21] QUIT SCHOOL, I'LL COME HOME, I'LL RUN [3:23] THE BAR, THE LIQUOR STORE, AND WE'LL [3:25] LIVE IN THE HOUSE. [3:27] AND I WAS LIKE, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. [3:29] THAT'S NOT WHAT OUR PARENTS WOULD [3:31] HAVE WANTED. [3:31] HE WAS THE FIRST IN OUR FAMILY TO [3:33] GO TO COLLEGE. [3:34] AND WE WERE SO PROUD OF HIM. [3:36] MY MOTHER WAS SO PROUD OF HIM. [3:39] SOMETHING LIKE, YOU CAN'T. [3:42] SO I WENT TO A NEARBY TOWN TO [3:44] LIVE WITH AN ANT AND UNCLE. [3:46] BUT LINDSEY CAME HOME EVERY [3:48] WEEKEND. [3:50] EVERY WEEKEND. [3:51] HE CALLED THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. [3:53] IF I WANTED TO GO TO THE MOVIES [3:54] WITH A FRIEND, I CALLED LINDSEY. [3:57] LINDSEY GAVE ME THE MONEY TO GO. [3:59] SO HE TRULY WAS MY PARENT. [4:02] YEAH. [4:03] I WATCHED AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM. [4:05] AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS HIS TOP PRIORITY. [4:09] HE SAID AT ONE POINT, WHEN HE [4:12] HAD DISCUSSED AT ANY POINT LEAVING [4:14] SCHOOL, HE SAID FOR YOUR MOM, [4:17] IT WAS A NO-GO ZONE. [4:18] THAT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. [4:20] NO WAY. [4:21] YEAH. [4:21] SHE WAS BEYOND PROUD. [4:24] I CAN REMEMBER WHEN HE WOULD COME [4:26] HOME FROM COLUMBIA. [4:27] HE WOULD RIDE THE BUS. [4:29] AND SHE WOULD GET SO EXCITED. [4:32] SHE WAS LIKE, LINDSEY'S COMING HOME. [4:35] AND I WOULD RUN DOWN THE STREET [4:37] TO THE BUS STOP AND GREED HIM. [4:39] SO, THOSE ARE GREAT DAYS. [4:41] IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE WHERE YOU [4:43] WERE A WEEK AGO BECAUSE YOU WERE [4:46] JUST ABSORBING THIS DAY, YOU KNOW, [4:50] THE MAGNITUDE OF LOSING YOUR [4:52] BROTHER AND THE SURPRISE OF LOSING [4:53] YOUR BROTHER. [4:54] I MEAN, I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH [4:55] THE TIMELINE OF IT ALL. [4:57] AND, WOW. [5:00] I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW ANYONE [5:01] THAT'S EVER HAD THAT WHIRDWIND [5:02] OF A WEEK. [5:03] I MEAN, SATURDAY NIGHT, [5:05] YOU FIND OUT HE'S SICK. [5:06] SUNDAY, YOU KNOW, BY MIDNIGHT AT [5:09] LEAST, THAT HE HAD PASSED ON. [5:12] I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON. [5:13] MY FRIEND, SENATOR TIM SCOTT, [5:16] CALLED ME AT 3 IN THE MORNING. [5:17] THAT'S NOT TIM'S USUAL TIME [5:19] TO CALL ANYBODY. [5:20] AND THEN I LOOKED AT MY PHONE [5:22] AND I JUST, LIKE, WAS IN A STATE OF [5:23] SHOCK THAT HE PASSED ON. [5:28] AND THEN YOUR LIFE CHANGED ON A [5:30] DIME. [5:32] YES. [5:32] LET'S TALK ABOUT THE [5:35] CONVERSATIONS YOU TALKED TO ON [5:37] SUNDAY. [5:38] THIS IS THE NIGHT AFTER LINDSEY [5:40] PASSES AWAY. [5:41] GOVERNOR MCMASTER, SENATOR SCOTT, [5:43] ELECTED OFFICIALS, PRESIDENT [5:45] TRUMP, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY [5:48] CALLS, I'M SURE YOU WEREN'T [5:49] EXPECTING THE DAY BEFORE. [5:52] IT WAS JUST UNBELIEVABLE. [5:55] I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE I WAS [5:56] LIVING A NIGHTMARE [5:57] WHEN I GOT THE UNEXPECTED NEWS. [6:01] I WAS JUST, I CAN'T EVEN TELL [6:02] YOU HOW DEVASTATED I WAS [6:04] WHEN I GOT THAT CALL. [6:08] IT WAS SO HARD. [6:11] BUT FROM THERE, [6:12] THINGS JUST STARTED MOVING SO [6:14] FAST. [6:15] LIKE YOU SAID, I GOT THE CALL [6:16] FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE [6:18] GOVERNOR, TIM SCOTT. [6:21] JUST THOUGHTFUL MESSAGES. [6:25] HOW MUCH THEY RESPECTED [6:26] HAPPENED TO BE A POLITICIAN [6:30] OR A SENATOR? [6:30] I WAS JUST SHOCKED. [6:32] IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME. [6:35] THAT WAS LINDSAY'S LIFE, NOT [6:38] MINE. [6:39] NOTHING I EVER WANTED TO BE A [6:40] POLITICIAN OR A SENATOR. [6:41] BUT WHEN THEY ASKED, IT DIDN'T [6:44] TAKE ME LONG. [6:45] I PRAYED. [6:46] I TALKED TO MY FAMILY. [6:48] I KNEW THAT I HAD TO STEP UP. [6:51] I HAD TO CARRY ON HIS LEGACY. [6:52] IN OTHER WORDS, YOU JUST FELT [7:01] AT THAT MOMENT, UNEXPECTED CALLING [7:03] THAT YOU NEVER DREAMED OF. [7:05] IS THAT A FAIR WAY? [7:06] YES, ABSOLUTELY. [7:07] SO WE GET TO MONDAY, OKAY. [7:11] LET ME PAUSE AND SAY, AND I KNOW [7:14] THIS TO BE THE TRUTH AND A FACT, [7:16] THERE WAS NOBODY IN THE HOUSE OR [7:18] SENATE THAT WAS CLOSER TO [7:21] PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SPENT MORE [7:23] TIME WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP THAN [7:27] YOUR BROTHER. [7:28] CORRECT. [7:29] AND I KNOW HOW MUCH THAT MEANT [7:30] TO HIM. [7:30] AND I KNOW HOW OFTEN HE TALKED [7:33] ABOUT IT. [7:34] I ASSUME HE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF [7:35] THAT WITH YOU AS WELL. [7:36] HE DID. [7:37] HE DID. [7:38] I KNEW FROM LINDSEY. [7:40] LINDSEY THOUGHT A LOT OF HIM. [7:41] I KNEW THEY HAD DEVELOPED A [7:43] FRIENDSHIP, BUT THE PRESIDENT [7:45] CONFIRMED THAT. [7:46] HE SAID HE WAS LIKE A FAMILY [7:48] MEMBER. [7:48] YEAH. [7:49] SO THAT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO ME. [7:52] YOU KNOW, THERE'S A TIMELINE THAT [7:54] GETS OBVIOUSLY OUT OF YOUR [7:56] CONTROL VERY QUICKLY. [7:58] YES. [7:58] AND I'VE KNOWN GOVERNOR [8:01] McMASTER A LONG TIME. [8:02] VERY FOND OF HIM. [8:03] I'VE KNOWN TIM SCOTT, A DEAR [8:04] FRIEND OF MINE. [8:05] MM-HMM. [8:06] AND THEN THE PRESIDENT [8:08] PUTS OUT MONDAY. [8:10] AGAIN, YOU'VE HAD JUST A LITTLE [8:12] OVER 24 HOURS TO DEAL WITH IT A [8:14] WEEK AGO. [8:14] MM-HMM. [8:15] I RECOMMENDED TO GOVERNOR [8:19] HENRY McMASTER THAT LINDSEY [8:21] GRAHAM'S WONDERFUL SISTER, [8:22] DARLENE, YOU KNOW, TO SERVE AS [8:24] INTERIM SENATOR OF THE GREAT [8:26] STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. [8:27] THIS WOULD BE A FABULOUS TRIBUTE [8:29] TO LINDSEY, WHO LOVED HER DEARLY. [8:31] TALK ABOUT WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD [8:35] THAT IDEA AND WHAT WAS YOUR [8:37] INITIAL REACTION. [8:38] AND YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT'S A [8:40] SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. [8:41] YEAH, SHE'S 17. [8:42] YEAH. [8:43] IT WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE IT HAD [8:46] NEVER ENTERED MY MIND THAT I WOULD [8:48] BE ASKED THAT QUESTION. [8:49] SO IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO [8:52] PROCESS IT. [8:53] BUT LIKE I SAID, IT DIDN'T TAKE [8:55] ME LONG TO REALIZE THAT, YOU [8:57] KNOW, I FELT JUST THIS INNER [9:00] CALLING. [9:01] IT HAS TO BE GOD'S PLAN. [9:04] IT HAS TO BE GOD'S PLAN THAT I [9:06] HAD TO CARRY ON HIS LEGACY. [9:08] AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HOW MUCH [9:11] THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA [9:13] MEANT TO HIM, SERVING OUR [9:15] COUNTRY MEANT TO HIM. [9:16] AND I'VE BEEN SERVING THE PEOPLE [9:18] OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOR ALMOST 30 [9:20] YEARS IN MY POSITION. [9:21] NOW, IF YOU MOVE AND FAST [9:24] FORWARD, IT'S TUESDAY. [9:26] YEAH. [9:27] YOU'RE WITH HENRY [9:27] McMASTER, AND HE MAKES THE [9:29] ANNOUNCEMENT. [9:31] AND NOW YOU HAVE TO SPEAK BEFORE [9:34] THE NATION. [9:36] AGAIN, NOT A LOT OF TIME TO REALLY [9:38] ABSORB WHAT'S HAPPENING. [9:39] THIS TIMELINE IS MOVING QUICKLY. [9:40] JUST, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, I [9:43] THINK FOR ANYBODY IN THAT [9:44] SITUATION, IT IS THE TIMELINE. [9:46] IT IS WHAT IT IS. [9:48] YOU'RE TALKING TO A GOVERNOR [9:49] THAT IS ASKING YOU TO DO IT. [9:51] YOU'RE TALKING TO A PRESIDENT [9:52] OF OUR COUNTRY THAT'S ASKING [9:53] YOU TO DO IT. [9:54] YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION. [9:56] AND, YOU KNOW, THEN THE NEXT [9:58] THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE BEING [9:59] SPORNED INTO THE UNITED STATES [10:01] SENATE. [10:01] YEAH. [10:02] AND NOW YOU'RE A [10:03] UNITED STATES SENATOR. [10:06] THAT IS A FAST TIMELINE. [10:07] A VERY FAST TIMELINE. [10:09] HOW WAS THAT MOMENT, BECAUSE I [10:12] WATCHED YOU AND I WAS ACTUALLY [10:14] STUNNED AT THE POISE AND GRACE [10:18] AND, YOU KNOW, BY WHICH YOU [10:22] WERE SWORN IN AND THEN YOU [10:23] SPOKE ABOUT YOUR BROTHER AND [10:25] WITH THE PASSION THAT CAME OUT [10:26] BEHIND IT, YOU CAN FEEL IT. [10:29] WAS THAT A TOUGH MOMENT FOR YOU? [10:31] IT WAS TOUGH. [10:32] IT WAS VERY TOUGH. [10:33] BUT, YOU KNOW, I PRAYED ABOUT IT. [10:37] I HAD SUPPORT FROM MY FAMILY. [10:39] AND, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I HAD AN [10:42] INNER PEACE ABOUT IT. [10:44] AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING I KNEW I [10:46] HAD TO DO. [10:47] I HAD TO CARRY ON LINDSAY'S [10:48] LEGACY. [10:49] YEAH. [10:50] I HAD TO DO IT FOR HIM. [10:51] YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY WENT [10:53] BACK AND I FOUND AN OLD INTERVIEW [10:56] THAT YOUR BROTHER DID ON C-SPAN. [10:57] AND IT WAS IN 2015 WHEN HE WAS [11:03] DOING, WHEN HE WAS, YOU KNOW, [11:03] RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT. [11:04] THIS IS WHAT HE SAID. [11:05] OF ALL THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED [11:07] IN MY LIFE, DARLENE, MY SISTER, [11:12] TURNING OUT SO WELL IS THE [11:15] HIGHEST OF IT BY FAR. [11:17] AND THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT [11:20] IF HE WERE TO WIN, WHAT ROLE [11:23] WOULD SHE PLAY IN THE WHITE HOUSE? [11:24] I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE AWARE THAT [11:25] HE WAS ASKED THAT QUESTION. [11:26] I WANT TO RECALL THAT. [11:28] AND HE SAID SHE WOULD BE A [11:29] SUPPORT FOR ME. [11:31] AFTER HE HAD BEEN SUCH A [11:33] SUPPORT FOR YOU. [11:34] 13 IS SO YOUNG TO LOSE BOTH [11:36] YOUR PARENTS. [11:36] AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, [11:38] WHATEVER I ASKED HER TO DO, [11:40] SHE WOULD DO. [11:41] THAT SOUNDS LIKE LINDSAY TO ME. [11:43] IF SHE TOOK ON, YOU KNOW, A ROLE [11:46] ON, SHE WOULD BE A GREAT [11:47] REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR COUNTRY. [11:49] I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER [11:50] PERSON TO REPRESENT OUR COUNTRY [11:53] THAN MY SISTER. [11:56] PRETTY POWERFUL AND ALMOST A [11:59] LITTLE BIT, MAYBE FORECASTING [12:03] OR MAYBE INSTINCTIVELY KNOWING [12:05] THAT, KNOWING SOMETHING [12:08] ABOUT YOU OR SEEING SOMETHING [12:09] IN YOU AND UNDERSTANDING [12:11] SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT HE [12:14] WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE [12:15] COUNTRY HAD HE GOT INTO [12:16] THAT POSITION. [12:17] YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, [12:19] SHAWN. [12:20] I JUST KNOW THAT I HAVE TO [12:22] TRUST THAT GOD HAS A PLAN. [12:25] YOU KNOW, I NEVER WANTED THIS. [12:28] THIS WAS MY BROTHER'S LIFE. [12:29] HE WORKED SO HARD FOR THE PEOPLE [12:32] OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND OUR COUNTRY. [12:34] AND I WAS SO PROUD OF HIM. [12:37] BUT, YOU KNOW, IF GOD HAS PUT ME [12:39] IN THIS POSITION, I WILL DO IT. [12:42] I WILL TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE. [12:45] YOU KNOW, LINDSAY WAS ALWAYS [12:46] THERE FOR ME. [12:48] AND I FEEL LIKE NOW I NEED TO [12:49] STEP UP AND BE THERE FOR HIM. [12:51] I AM. [12:52] SO TO CONTINUE WITH YOUR [12:53] WHIRLWIND WEEK, YOU'RE A SENATOR [12:55] ON TUESDAY. [12:56] ON THURSDAY, YOU'RE IN THE OVAL [12:58] OFFICE. [12:59] YES. [13:00] I MAY BE GUESSING THAT YOUR [13:03] BROTHER TOOK YOU TO THE OVAL [13:04] OFFICE BEFORE. [13:05] I'D BEEN THERE ONE TIME, [13:07] A PINNING CEREMONY. [13:09] NOW THE PRESIDENT'S ASKING YOU [13:11] INTO THE OVAL, INVITING YOU INTO [13:12] THE OVAL OFFICE. [13:13] MY UNDERSTANDING IS YOU'RE MET [13:15] BY THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE [13:17] PRESIDENT, SECRETARY OF STATE [13:19] MARCO RUBIO, U.S. [13:22] SPECIAL ENVOYED IN THE MIDDLE [13:23] EAST, STEPHEN WHITKOFF, AND BY [13:26] CHIEF OF STAFF, SUZIE WILES. [13:28] I WOULD SAY THAT'S A WHO'S [13:30] WHO IN WASHINGTON. [13:32] BRING US INTO THAT MEETING. [13:33] I THINK IT WENT VERY WELL. [13:36] YOU KNOW, THE PRESIDENT WAS [13:37] VERY SINCERE IN HIS [13:39] CONDOLENCES ABOUT LINDSAY. [13:41] HE TALKED ABOUT HIM AND WHAT A [13:44] GOOD FRIEND HE WAS, HOW HE [13:45] CONSIDERED HIM FAMILY. [13:49] I TOLD HIM HOW MUCH I [13:50] APPRECIATED ALL THAT HE HAD [13:51] DONE AND HOW THEY'D WORK [13:53] TOGETHER. [13:54] AND THEN I WENT ON TO [13:56] MENTION THAT THERE WERE SOME [13:57] THINGS THAT I FELT LIKE WERE [13:59] VERY IMPORTANT TO LINDSAY, [14:00] RUSSIA'S SANCTIONS, [14:02] AND THAT I REALLY WANTED TO [14:04] PUSH THOSE ACROSS THE FINISH [14:05] LINE. [14:06] SO YOU REALLY SHARE [14:07] THE SAME VALUES AS YOUR [14:08] BROTHER. [14:09] YOU FOLLOWED HIS CAREER [14:10] VERY CLOSELY. [14:11] MM-HMM. [14:12] AND I MET YOUR WONDERFUL [14:13] HUSBAND, AND WE HAVE A [14:15] SHARED PASSION FOR Waffle [14:16] HOUSE. [14:16] I CAN'T COME TO SOUTH [14:19] CAROLINA AND NOT GO TO [14:20] WAFFLE HOUSE. [14:20] HE LOVES WAFFLE HOUSE. [14:21] AND WE TALK MORE ABOUT [14:23] WAFFLE HOUSE THAN ANYTHING [14:25] ELSE. [14:25] AND NOW, IF THAT WEEK [14:29] WASN'T, I GUESS, WHIRLWIND [14:33] ENOUGH, BY, I GUESS IT WAS [14:36] THURSDAY OR FRIDAY, OR, YOU [14:37] KNOW, THE PRESIDENT PUTS OUT, [14:40] IT WAS MY HONOR TO WELCOME [14:42] SENATOR DARLENE GRAHAM, THE [14:44] SISTER OF THE LATE GREAT [14:46] LINDSEY GRAHAM FROM THE [14:48] WONDERFUL STATE OF SOUTH [14:49] CAROLINA INTO THE OVAL [14:51] OFFICE. [14:51] WE HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A [14:52] LONG TIME. [14:53] SHE'S A SPECTACULAR PERSON [14:55] AND A TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOT. [14:58] LINDSEY WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST [14:59] PEOPLE SENATORS I'VE EVER [15:01] KNOWN. [15:01] AND HIS SISTER SHARES HIS DEEP [15:03] LOVE OF OUR COUNTRY IN THE STATE [15:05] OF SOUTH CAROLINA. [15:06] AND DURING HER VISIT, I ASKED [15:09] DARLENE FOR THE GOOD OF OUR [15:11] NATION TO RUN FOR THE U.S. [15:14] SENATE IN THE SPECIAL [15:16] REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WHICH WILL [15:18] TAKE PLACE NOT FAR AWAY, AUGUST [15:21] 11TH, I MEAN, HIS FUNERAL IS [15:23] THE 28TH OF JULY. [15:24] I KNOW. [15:25] 2026, QUOTE, I HOPE, BY THE [15:29] WAY, NO PRESSURE FROM [15:30] PRESIDENT TRUMP, I HOPE DARLENE [15:32] DOES THIS IN THAT THERE WOULD [15:35] BE NOBODY BETTER TO HONOR THE [15:36] LEGACY OF HER BELOVED BROTHER, [15:38] LINDSAY, AND DARLENE, WHO COMES [15:41] FROM AN ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE [15:42] FAMILY, HAS BEEN A WINNER HER [15:45] WHOLE LIFE SHOULD SHE ACCEPT [15:47] SHE WILL HAVE MY COMPLETE, TOTAL [15:50] ENDORSEMENT IN THE SPECIAL [15:52] ELECTION FOR THE U.S. SENATE IN [15:54] SOUTH CAROLINA. [15:55] SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. [15:56] RUN, RUN, DARLENE, RUN. [15:59] WERE YOU EXPECTING THAT? [16:00] NO, I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT. [16:03] YEAH. [16:03] OKAY, SO NOW YOU'RE [16:05] FACED WITH, I DON'T KNOW, I [16:07] MEAN, IT'S KIND OF HARD. [16:08] PEOPLE DON'T KNOW DONALD TRUMP [16:10] AS WELL AS I DO. [16:11] I'VE KNOWN HIM 30 YEARS. [16:12] AND WHEN HE ASKS FOR SOMETHING, [16:15] IT'S HARD TO SAY NO TO A PRESIDENT. [16:17] OH, YES. [16:17] HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THAT [16:20] ASPECT OF THIS? [16:21] I'VE GIVEN IT A LOT OF THOUGHT. [16:23] I'VE PRAYED ON IT, TALKED TO MY [16:24] FAMILY, LINDSAY'S STAFF. [16:27] HE HAS A WONDERFUL, HARD-WORKING [16:29] STAFF. [16:29] AND SO, YES. [16:32] THEY'RE ALL STAYING WITH YOU. [16:33] THEY'RE ALL STAYING WITH ME. [16:35] THEY'RE ALL SUPPORTING ME AND [16:36] BEHIND ME, WHICH IS, THAT MEANS SO [16:38] MUCH TO ME. [16:39] SUCH AN HONOR. [16:40] LINDSAY LOVED THEM. [16:42] THEY'RE LIKE FAMILY. [16:43] SO, ABSOLUTELY. [16:44] SO, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD NEWS IS [16:47] YOU HAVE A HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE [16:48] FOR CONSTITUENT SERVICES ALREADY [16:50] BUILT IN THAT YOU'RE INHERITING [16:52] FROM YOUR BROTHER. [16:53] CORRECT. [16:53] SO THAT'S GOT TO GIVE YOU [16:54] SOME PEACE. [16:55] IT DOES. [16:55] IT DOES. [16:56] IT REASSURES ME THAT, YOU KNOW, [16:58] I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO THIS. [17:00] AND THE MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, [17:02] IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR. [17:04] IT WAS COMFORTABLE. [17:06] AND, YOU KNOW, I TOLD HIM TWO [17:08] THINGS. [17:08] I SAID, I CAN TELL YOU THIS ABOUT ME. [17:10] I WILL WORK HARD, AND I'M LOYAL. [17:13] SO. [17:14] I BETTER LIKE THE SECOND PART BETTER. [17:17] YEAH. [17:18] MAYBE, YEAH. [17:19] WHAT'S INTERESTING, AND I THINK PART OF [17:21] IT'S A GOOD THING, I THINK PART OF [17:24] IT, IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, [17:26] IT MAKES IT TRIPLY HARDER IN THAT I LIKE [17:30] THE IDEA IF, GOD FORBID, A STATE LOSES A [17:33] SENATOR, THEY DESERVE REPRESENTATION. [17:35] ABSOLUTELY. [17:36] AND NOW THEY HAVE IT IN YOU WITH [17:39] LINDSAY'S FULL STAFF IN PLACE. [17:41] THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR THE PEOPLE, [17:42] THE GREAT PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. [17:44] I AM SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIS STAFF. [17:47] I MEAN, THEY'RE BRINGING ME UP TO SPEED. [17:49] THEY'RE RIGHT BY MY SIDE WORKING HARD [17:51] WHILE GRIEVING. [17:53] IT'S BEEN HARD ON THEM, SO I CAN'T TELL YOU [17:55] HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE THEM. [17:57] THE PRESIDENT AGAIN SAYING, I HOPE Darlene [18:00] DOES THIS, MEANING I HOPE YOU WILL GET. [18:05] AND HERE'S THE FILING DEADLINE FOR [18:07] PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW. [18:08] AND THIS IS, THESE ARE JUST THE LAWS [18:09] OF SOUTH CAROLINA. [18:11] THE FILING BEGINS TOMORROW. [18:14] I THINK YOU HAVE A WEEK. [18:17] YES. [18:17] AND BY THAT TIME, [18:20] THE FUNERALS WON'T EVEN HAVE TAKEN PLACE. [18:22] I KNOW. [18:23] AND THEN THE PRESIDENT PUTTING [18:26] AN ASK ON YOU, WE'LL PUT IT THAT WAY. [18:29] IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE. [18:31] IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PRESSURE. [18:34] TELL ME WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD [18:36] ABOUT IT, AND WHERE DO YOU STAND NOW? [18:38] I'VE BEEN, I'VE CONTINUED TO SAY, [18:40] I'VE BEEN PRAYING A LOT, [18:41] TALKING TO MY FAMILY. [18:43] BUT WITH THE LOVE OF MY FAMILY, [18:46] WITH THE SUPPORT OF HIS STAFF, [18:49] I KNOW I'M A HARD WORKER. [18:51] I LEARNED THAT FROM LINDSEY. [18:53] HE CARED ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE. [18:56] I'VE WORKED FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS [18:58] FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE. [18:59] I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. [19:01] I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO IT. [19:02] I FEEL AN INNER PEACE ABOUT IT. [19:07] WILL IT BE DIFFICULT? [19:08] YES, ABSOLUTELY. [19:10] SO YOU'RE INCLINED TO GET IN, [19:11] OR HAVE YOU EVEN MADE A FINAL DECISION? [19:15] I'VE MADE A DECISION. [19:17] YOU'RE IN. [19:18] I'M IN. [19:19] I'M IN. [19:20] I CAN'T SEE IT ANY OTHER WAY. [19:22] I JUST CAN'T. [19:23] I'VE THOUGHT AND I'VE PRAYED AND I JUST, [19:28] HE'S WORKED SO HARD FOR SO LONG. [19:32] I JUST, I CAN'T JUST LET THAT DIE. [19:36] I'VE GOT TO STEP IN AND CARRY ON HIS LEGACY. [19:39] I KNOW HE CARED ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF [19:42] SOUTH CAROLINA SO DEEPLY. [19:44] HE WORKED SO HARD FOR THEM. [19:47] AND I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO THAT TOO. [19:49] HE TAUGHT ME WELL. [19:50] I LEARNED A LOT FROM LINDSEY. [19:53] YOU WERE INVOLVED IN EVERY CAMPAIGN. [19:55] EVERY CAMPAIGN, YES. [19:56] AND THANK GOD YOU WERE, [19:58] BECAUSE IT WASN'T, YOUR ADS WERE [20:00] MUCH BETTER THAN HIS ADS, [20:02] YOU KNOW, AS YOU WOULD TALK ABOUT HIM [20:04] AND FROM ONE OF THE TIME, [20:06] YOU WERE 13. [20:07] THE PERSONAL SIDE, [20:09] HE HAD A HARD TIME SHARING THAT. [20:10] SO YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS [20:13] PERIOD WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE VERY [20:15] BUSY, I'M SURE FUELAL ARRANGEMENTS. [20:18] THE PERSONAL SIDE IS BRUTAL. [20:20] BRUTAL. [20:22] AND COMING UP, MORE OF MY [20:23] EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SENATOR [20:25] DARLENE GRAHAM, INCLUDING A [20:26] DISCUSSION ON HOW SENATOR DARLENE [20:28] GRAHAM WILL GOVERN MAYBE A LITTLE [20:30] DIFFERENTLY THAN HER BROTHER ALSO. [20:32] ALL RIGHT, THANKS FOR WATCHING. [20:34] CHECK OUT MY NEW PODCAST, HANGING [20:35] OUT WITH ME, SEAN HANNITY. [20:36] THE BIG INTERVIEWS, THE DEBATES YOU [20:38] WON'T GET ANYWHERE ELSE. [20:39] LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES [20:42] EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.