Trump rallies in Greenville, North Carolina, for Senate nominee Whatley
In short
President Donald Trump held a midterm rally in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley, speaking for nearly two hours. Whatley trails Democrat Roy Cooper in polls, and outlets reported that Republican on-air spending for the race has stopped.
Read the full story 2 min read
President Donald Trump held a rally at Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening, campaigning for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley. Newsweek and the New York Post reported that he spoke for nearly two hours. Newsweek gave an estimate of 1,000 to 1,500 people in the crowd. PBS NewsHour reported that Air Force One did a flyover above the crowd before it landed just before 7 p.m. [ 4 , 5 , 8 ]
Trump said it was his encouragement that led Whatley to run, telling the crowd: "I'm the one that got him into this." The New York Post quoted him as saying: "I'm doing something different. I'm working like a dog." It reported that he has made 17 campaign stops since the Republican midterm convention in Dallas last month, and that he outlined plans last month to hit 35 battleground districts. Trump said he is scheduled to make another appearance in North Carolina before Election Day. [ 5 , 8 ]
Whatley faces Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. CBS News said Whatley trails Cooper in the polls, and the New York Post said the gap is nearly 10 percentage points in the latest RealClearPolitics average. PBS NewsHour reported that the Senate Republicans' top campaign spending group pulled back in North Carolina, and NPR reported that Republicans have stopped spending on air for their candidate. [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
PBS NewsHour said the seat is open because Tillis decided not to seek reelection after clashing with Trump over his tax breaks and spending cuts legislation. Newsweek reported that Tillis told Politico that Republicans are heading for a midterm "train wreck" and could lose the House. A White House assistant press secretary, Davis Tingle, told Newsweek that Trump is "the unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party." [ 4 , 5 ]
Other remarks drew coverage. The Hill reported that Trump again complimented the build of Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, saying: "This guy's a monster." Husted is in a tight race with former Sen. Sherrod Brown. The Guardian reported that Trump said there will be "no money" to settle claims over water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune if Republicans are not victorious, and that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced new investment to support semiconductor production in North Carolina. CBS News said Trump defended the Iran war and downplayed high prices. [ 3 , 11 , 12 ]
Early voting got underway in North Carolina last week. CNN reported, citing the state's Board of Elections, that just over 9% of registered voters have cast a ballot, a total of 733,299 early in-person and absentee ballots. Newsweek reported that Democrats need to defend all of their seats and flip four Republican seats to take control of the Senate. PBS NewsHour noted that the midterm election is on Nov. 3 and that Trump has offered $5,000 checks to boost Republican turnout, which some of his fans doubt would arrive. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The Senate seat in North Carolina is open, and Democrats see it as a top opportunity as control of Congress is decided on Nov. 3. Outlets reported that Whatley trails in polls and that Republican spending groups have pulled back, which makes Trump's visit a test of the party's position in the state.
Key facts
- Trump rallied at Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening, campaigning for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley. [ 4 , 5 ]
- Trump spoke for nearly two hours, about 1 hour 52 minutes according to the New York Post. [ 4 , 8 ]
- Whatley faces Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper for the seat of retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. [ 4 , 5 ]
- The New York Post reported that Whatley trails Cooper by nearly 10 percentage points in the latest RealClearPolitics polling average; CBS News also said he trails in the polls. [ 6 , 8 ]
- PBS NewsHour reported that the Senate Republicans' top campaign spending group pulled back in North Carolina; NPR reported Republicans have stopped spending on air for their Senate candidate. [ 5 , 9 ]
- Trump said he has made about 10 rallies in about eight days and expects about 18 rallies in the 15 days before Election Day, the New York Post reported. [ 8 ]
- Trump again complimented the physique of Ohio Sen. Jon Husted during the rally. [ 3 , 12 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Trump rallied in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening in support of Senate nominee Michael Whatley. [ 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- Whatley is behind Democrat Roy Cooper in polls. [ 6 , 8 ]
- Republican spending for the North Carolina Senate race has been pulled back or stopped. [ 5 , 9 ]
- Trump spoke for nearly two hours. [ 4 , 8 ]
- Trump again complimented Sen. Jon Husted's physique at the North Carolina rally. [ 3 , 12 ]
- The election is on Nov. 3. [ 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- How many people attended the rally. Newsweek gave an estimate of 1,000 to 1,500 people, but its text is cut off where it names the source of the estimate; no other document gives a figure.
- Whether the $5,000 checks Trump has offered will arrive. PBS NewsHour said even some of his devoted fans doubt the government payouts would arrive; no document says how the payments would work.
- What Trump said about the Iran war and prices at the rally. CBS News said only that he defended the war and downplayed high prices; the documents give no quotes.