South Carolina Republican congressman Ralph Norman publicly criticised President Donald Trump for intervening in the state's bitter Senate Republican primary, repeatedly calling the president's involvement "shocking". Norman's outburst came as Trump backed Senate candidate Graham, sister of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, and it exposed rifts within the GOP that could hand Democrats an unexpected opportunity in a state they would not normally contest seriously in November.

Norman accused Trump of personally pressuring congressmen to switch their support and of spending roughly $800,000 on a rally for Graham days before the runoff, a figure broadly in line with the $827,711 reported by MAGA Inc. and further sums from groups including Security Is Strength PAC (over $1.1 million) and Palmetto Action (about $702,000). He also criticised endorsement and donations from Alaska senator Lisa Murkowski, and compared Trump's heavy involvement unfavourably to Ronald Reagan's approach, while questioning Graham's suitability after she stumbled in a debate. Norman briefly urged voters to write in his own name before reportedly backtracking and endorsing Graham, who went on to win the runoff by around 20,000 votes.