Trump credits Whatley for GOP’s past ‘record setting’ election wins in NC rally

President Trump made his first campaign stop in North Carolina Wednesday since last week’s Republican National Committee (RNC) Midterm Convention, rallying for Senate candidate Michael Whatley as Republicans hope to keep the Tar Heel State’s seat red this November.

Trump claimed the battleground state during his three presidential runs. He told the Gastonia, North Carolina, crowd Wednesday that Whatley — who formerly co-chaired the RNC alongside his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump — helped him secure these wins.

“We won those record-setting victories with the help of a man named Michael Whatley,” Trump said. “He was incredible.”

The president went on to praise the GOP candidate for his time chairing the RNC with his daughter-in-law. In 2025, Trump gave Whatley his blessing to pursue the North Carolina Senate seat, which Lara Trump briefly pursued before dropping her bid.

“Nobody better in the whole country. I had my choice of the whole country. I chose Michael Whatley,” Trump said.

The stop in North Carolina came as recent polls showed Whatley trailing his Democratic opponent, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) — who was in office from 2017 to 2014.

In an Elon University poll published Monday, 49 percent of likely voters said they backed Cooper, while 38 percent said they supported Whatley. Another 14 percent said they were undecided or planned to vote for someone else.

Whatley for his part spoke about his relationship with Trump, going back to 2015 when he said he was asked to “help a businessman run for president.”

“Here we are, 11 years later, and every single day, Donald Trump is fighting to make America great,” the candidate said. “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 attacked Cooper during his Wednesday remarks, calling the former governor part of the “radical left” and a “murderer protector.” He claimed crime ticked up in the state under Cooper’s leadership and accused him of doing “nothing” for Hurricane Helene victims in 2024.

The president repeated a line he used at the midterm convention and throughout the 2026 election cycle, urging voters to pretend he’s on the November ballot.

“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,” he continued. “But I just want you to go out and pretend I’m on the ticket because essentially I am.”

This election comes amid a tough political landscape, with the GOP grappling with historical headwinds, sinking approval ratings and fallout from the war in Iran.

Trump reiterated the Iran war is “going to end soon” and called the increased gas prices amid the conflict a “very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done.”

“It’s going to be a really good conclusion,” the president said, adding that it could be “after the election, but maybe not.”

Trump also reiterated an announcement he made at last week’s convention that American adults will receive $5,000 checks if the Republicans win the midterm election — the logistics of which since coming under scrutiny.

“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.”

The president also told the Gastonia crowd that his Big, Beautiful Bill tax cuts — including no tax on tips, Social Security and overtime — will be made permanent.