President Donald Trump on Monday urged the governor of South Carolina to appoint Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to temporarily take the place of the legendary Republican in the U.S. following his sudden death Saturday night.
“I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Trump said Monday on Truth Social.
“This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!”
The governor will announce a six-month appointment at 4 p.m. Eastern, and some outlets including Fox News are reporting Darline Norton is the choice.
Sources: S.C. governor @HenryMcMaster will appoint the late U.S. senator @LindseyGrahamSC‘s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to fill the remaining six months of his term. We posted yesterday that this was a distinct possibility… looks like it’s about to happen. pic.twitter.com/zOgjLO4GBt
— FITSNews (@fitsnews) July 13, 2026
The New York Times reported Monday: “It was 1976 when Lindsey Graham and his sister lost their mother to cancer. Just 15 months later, their father died of a heart attack.
“Mr. Graham was 22. His sister was just 13. Darline Graham Nordone said over the years that on the day their father died, she stood terrified of what it meant to be an orphan.

“She recalled Mr. Graham running to grab her, pulling her in for a hug.”
“He was like ‘I am so sorry, but it’s going to be OK. I’m going to take care of you,’” Ms. Nordone said in a recent video recollecting the moment. “And he did. He’s always been there for me.”
WATCH:
The shoes Lindsey Graham leaves behind will be incredibly
difficult to fill. His legacy is irreplaceable.️There is so much more to a person behind the public figure.
Here exists the human story.— April Color (@ColorApril) July 13, 2026
Follow Joe on X @JoeKovacsNews
Medical examiner reveals preliminary findings in Lindsey Graham’s sudden death
‘Every necessary resource’: FBI joins probe into ‘shocking’ death of Lindsey Graham