MORNING HEADLINES | First, the United States. Next, the Catholic Church.
After President Donald Trump joked Tuesday that he would actually be his “number one choice: to succeed the late Pope Francis, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., got into the act.
Graham, often cartooned as a presidential lap dog, backed Trump’s comments in a viral post to X Tuesday afternoon as an opportunity to show that he was Trump’s No. 1 supporter.
“I was excited to hear that President Trump is open to the idea of being the next pope,” Graham reportedly joked in a post seen by 3.2 million people as of this morning. “This would truly be a dark horse candidate, but I would ask the papal conclave and Catholic faithful to keep an open mind about this possibility!”
Trump was confirmed at a Presbyterian church as a child, but said in a 2020 statement that he considers himself ‘a nondenominational Christian.’
Graham’s post/joke was met with immediate backlash.
Meghan McCain, daughter of the late GOP U.S. Sen. John McCain, told Graham to “get a grip.”
“Can we send a rescue party?,” said U.S. Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Penn.A
“I’ve never seen a person so far up someone’s ass.”
“I don’t know which one is worse,” said one X user. “If he is joking or if he is serious.”
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S.C. House not planning to remove Loftis as state treasurer. The effort to remove state Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office over his role in a $1.8 billion accounting error reportedly is dead in the S.C. House of Representatives eight days after Republicans in the state Senate overwhelmingly voted that he had to go. With only five days left in the legislative session, time is running out for anything to be done this year.
McMaster abolishes constituent districts in Charleston Co.. Gov. Henry McMaster signed a bill Monday designed to drop the constituent districts and their respective boards of trustees in the Charleston County School District.
First sea turtle nest of 2025 spotted on Folly Beach. Trained volunteers have spotted the season’s first sea turtle nest a few days earlier than normal, the state Department of Natural Resources says.
Charleston Co. approves last phase for affordable housing program. The Charleston Home Program looks to maintain the designated 16 properties’ current price for those living in Charleston for decades.
Folly Beach working to finalize 2026 budget amid funding cuts. Federal funding cuts have made this year more of a challenge, but the mayor says they’ve come out with a balanced budget without increasing taxes.
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