President Trump made his first campaign stop in North Carolina on Wednesday since last week's Republican National Committee (RNC) Midterm Convention, throwing his support behind Senate candidate Michael Whatley as the GOP aims to hold onto the Tar Heel State's seat in November. Trump, who carried North Carolina in all three of his presidential runs, told a crowd in Gastonia that Whatley was instrumental in those victories.
"We won those record-setting victories with the help of a man named Michael Whatley," Trump said. "He was incredible." The president praised Whatley's tenure as RNC co-chair alongside his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, and noted that he personally selected Whatley for the Senate race after Lara dropped her bid. "Nobody better in the whole country. I had my choice of the whole country. I chose Michael Whatley," Trump added.
The rally comes as recent polling shows Whatley facing an uphill battle. An Elon University poll released Monday found 49 percent of likely voters backing former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, while 38 percent supported Whatley, with 14 percent undecided or choosing another candidate. Cooper served as governor from 2017 to 2025.
Whatley, in his remarks, highlighted his long-standing relationship with Trump, dating back to 2015 when he was asked to "help a businessman run for president." He said, "Here we are, 11 years later, and every single day, Donald Trump is fighting to make America great. And I am still with that guy, and I'm excited about running for Senate because I want every North Carolina family to make more money, to keep more money."
Trump used the platform to attack Cooper, labeling him part of the "radical left" and a "murderer protector." He claimed crime rose under Cooper's leadership and accused him of doing "nothing" for Hurricane Helene victims in 2024. These attacks echo a broader GOP strategy in a challenging political environment, with the party facing historical headwinds and fallout from the ongoing Iran war.
Trump also repeated his call for voters to treat the midterm as if he were on the ballot, a line he has used at the RNC convention and throughout the 2026 cycle. "But at this election, I'm asking you to pretend I'm on the ballot just one more time," he said. "Because when I'm on the ticket, I'm not bragging, but when I'm on the ticket, Republicans have always done really well. Everybody gets elected when I'm on."
On foreign policy, Trump insisted the Iran conflict is "going to end soon" and dismissed rising gas prices as "a very inexpensive price to pay for what we've done." He suggested a conclusion could come "after the election, but maybe not."
Trump also revisited his pledge to issue $5,000 checks to every American adult if Republicans win both chambers, a proposal that has drawn scrutiny over its feasibility. "And remember, if the Republicans win the House and Senate, I will issue what we will all call from now on the Trump dividend to every adult in America," he said. "We'll get $5,000, and you'll get it because we're taking in so much money, and we can do it." Additionally, he vowed to make permanent his "Big, Beautiful Bill" tax cuts, including no taxes on tips, Social Security, and overtime.
The North Carolina stop underscores the GOP's focus on a race that could determine control of the Senate. For more on the political dynamics, see the uphill fight for Whatley and the GOP's pre-election schedule.
