Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) expressed alarm after Sen. Darline Graham, a fellow South Carolina Republican, stated that national security was not her “thing.”

“Darline, darlin’, you are running for the United States Senate,” the congresswoman said in the Thursday episode of her podcast, “Get Maced.” “National security isn’t just a thing. It is damn near the only thing.”

Graham, who was appointed to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham in the Senate last month and is now running for a full term, drew backlash and mockery over the stunning confession she made this week during a debate against primary opponent Rep. Ralph Norman.

Q: Are Taiwan and the South China Sea national security issues for the United States?Sen. Darline Graham: “I’m just going to be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security, so — but I do support the military.”Wow pic.twitter.com/nvdA6BGoIf

“I’m just gonna be honest here. I’m not that informed on national security, so...” Graham answered after being asked whether Taiwan and the South China Sea were national security issues for the U.S.

She continued, “But I do support the military. My brother was in the Air Force for 33 years, so I will do everything I can to support the military. My dad was in the Army. I’m not a polished politician up here. National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.”

Replaying a clip of the answer on her podcast, Mace reacted with near-disbelief while suggesting she wished she was running for the Senate seat herself.

“Oh God. I don’t even, I can’t even, I’m, I’m now regretting I’m not running for the U.S. Senate. Jesus, I can’t even,” she said.

Mace remarked, “Saying national security isn’t your thing is like applying to be a lifeguard and saying water isn’t your thing.”

She noted that Graham’s answer was particularly concerning when combined with her answer to a diffrent question in an interview with Fox Carolina News the same week.

Graham, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, was asked whether she’d be in favor of putting “troops on the ground” in Iran.

“I trust President Trump to make that decision, and the team of generals he has around him,” Graham replied. “I do know this, that, you know, we, that’s been going on for 47 years. I feel like Iran is the weakest it’s ever been, but, uh, they’re still strong, they’re still dangerous. So, I trust President Trump to make that decision.”

“This is the part that should worry you,” Mace said, adding, “On that one question, she had an answer, and it was yes.”

She continued later, “She doesn’t know enough to have an opinion about China, but she knows enough to send your kid to Tehran; that’s not a candidate, that’s what we call a rubber stamp.”

See Mace’s full comments on Graham below:

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