Trump Team Reportedly Irate Over Nancy Mace Floating Her Name as a Graham Replacement: 'All We Want is a Republican Who is Sane'
Tom Durante ·
Mediaite reports that the Trump White House fumed as Nancy Mace touted herself as a candidate for Lindsey Graham's Senate seat hours after his death, posting the Godfather Part III 'they pull me back in' line the morning the news broke. One Trump official told Axios her move was 'in poor taste, even for Mace'; another said they would 'drop $2 million on her head' in a runoff. Trump instead recommended Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, as interim senator, with Sen. Tim Scott backing the pick.
Reported by Tom Durante at Mediaite, working from Axios's Monday reporting on the Graham succession.
The sequence, per Mediaite: Graham, 71, died Saturday night of what his office later said was "aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease." As the news spread Sunday morning, Mace posted Al Pacino's Godfather Part III line, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." By Monday, Trump officials were venting to Axios.
"putting herself out as a candidate while everyone was absorbing the news of Lindsey's death was in poor taste, even for Mace."
Top Trump official to Axios, as quoted by Mediaite, July 13, 2026. The same official noted Trump, a close friend of Graham, "was already not a fan" of Mace.
"If Mace ends up in a runoff, we'll drop $2 million on her head to keep her out. All we want is a Republican who is sane and can work with the White House."
Trump administration official to Axios, as quoted by Mediaite, July 13, 2026
Mediaite adds CNN data analyst Harry Enten's read on her chances:
"Despite being well known nationally, at this point anyway, the people who are putting their money where their mouths are don't give Nancy Mace much of a chance to win that nomination."
Harry Enten, CNN, July 13, 2026, as quoted by Mediaite
Trump, meanwhile, publicly settled on his pick for the interim seat: Graham's sister.
"I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham's wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina. This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!"
Donald Trump, Truth Social, as quoted by Mediaite
Sen. Tim Scott followed with his own endorsement of Darline Graham Nordone, writing that she "would be a fantastic pick to serve out the remainder of the senate term" and that "there is no one better who understands Lindsey's love for family, our state, and our country."
Mediaite closes on the June context: Mace was blown out in the South Carolina governor primary after Trump backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, finishing fifth.
On Maceopedia
- Trump allies say they can "block Rep. Nancy Mace" from Graham seat appointment
- Hours after Graham's death, Mace is already talking about his seat
- Mace's Graham-seat media tour: how her answer shifted across one Sunday
Sources & related coverage
- Mediaite: Trump Team Reportedly Irate Over Nancy Mace Floating Her Name as a Graham Replacement: 'All We Want is a Republican Who is Sane'
- AlterNet's version of the same Axios reporting: We want someone 'sane'
- Jezebel's commentary: So Apparently Nancy Mace's Fifth Stage of Grief Is Running for Senate
- The on-the-record version of the pushback: The Hill on Rep. Mike Lawler's "grotesque" reply
Read it: Mediaite ->
