At an airport rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, President Donald Trump rallied support for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley by criticizing Democrats for coddling criminals. Trump used graphic details of violent crimes and displayed mug shots on large screens to evoke fear among voters. This is part of a strategy to energize the conservative base ahead of November's elections where Republicans need to retain their majority, with North Carolina’s seat being crucial given its current Republican incumbent retiring. Trump praised Whatley extensively during his speech, emphasizing that voting for him would protect citizens from crime, despite polls showing former Governor Roy Cooper leading by 11 percentage points and having significantly more campaign funds ($21 million versus Whatley's $3.5 million).
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 16, President Donald Trump campaigned in Gastonia, North Carolina, for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, aiming to highlight crime as a key issue. Despite recent polls showing former Governor Roy Cooper leading with 49% among likely voters compared to Whatley's 38%, Trump emphasized Democratic policies as soft on crime and communism. At the rally, he used graphic visuals of alleged criminals to criticize Democrats for coddling offenders. The event included appearances by officials like U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, a departure from traditional nonpartisan roles. With all 435 congressional seats and 34 Senate seats up for grabs in November’s midterm elections, Trump's appearance underscores the importance of North Carolina in potentially determining which party controls the Senate during his second term.
Written for “Trump Campaigns In North Carolina” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
President Donald Trump leaned heavily into law and order as he worked to build support for the Republican candidate in a North Carolina race that could decide which party controls the Senate for the back half of his second term.
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party → lean → term
Speaking at an airport rally Wednesday, Trump said Democrats coddle criminals, peppering his hourlong speech with graphic details of violent crimes that he said are an outgrowth of Democratic policies.
asserted
he → speak → policies
He used visual aids to draw visceral reactions aimed at stoking antipathy to the Democratic candidate, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper.
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He → use → candidate
At one point, an oversize video screen displayed mug shots of unnamed criminal suspects.
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screen → display → suspects
The Republican running against Cooper, Michael Whatley, will make the streets safer, Trump said.
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Trump → run → Cooper
“You can either vote for Roy Cooper to set loose criminals who rape and murder your children and your population, or you can vote for Michael Whatley to protect and defend your children and your population,” Trump said.
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Trump → vote → children
One of the speakers who preceded Trump was Todd Blanche, the U.S. attorney general.
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who → precede → Trump
It’s a break from tradition for the attorney general to appear at partisan political rallies, but Trump has eroded some of the post-Watergate norms that sought to insulate the nation’s top law enforcement officer from politics.
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that → ’ → politics
A lot rides on the outcome.
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lot → rid → outcome
The North Carolina seat is now held by Republican Thom Tillis, a Trump critic who is retiring.
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who → hold → Tillis
Democrats must net four seats in the November elections to capture the Senate majority.
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Democrats → net → majority
Cooper was leading Whatley by 11 percentage points in the latest Elon University poll of likely voters.
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Cooper → lead → voters
That makes North Carolina ripe for a potential Democratic pickup.
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Carolina → make → pickup
Whatley is tying his candidacy tightly to Trump.
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Whatley → tie → Trump
Trump won North Carolina in all three of his presidential campaigns, even as Cooper won the governorship in 2016 and 2020; Whatley needs Trump to energize the MAGA base.
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Trump → win → base
Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman, lacks the name recognition in the state that Cooper enjoys as a former two-term governor.
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Cooper → lack → governor
He also faces a fundraising disadvantage.
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He → face → disadvantage
Cooper’s campaign had nearly $21 million to spend as of June 30, while Whatley’s campaign had $3.5 million, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.
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campaign → have → reports
Trump praised Whatley throughout the speech.
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Trump → praise → speech
In his own brief remarks before Trump took the stage, Whatley mentioned Trump’s name repeatedly.
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Whatley → take → name
“President Trump needs an ally who will work to lower costs, protect our families and preserve the American dream,” he said.
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he → need → dream
Polling shows that crime isn’t a top-of-mind concern for most voters across the U.S.
Crime and safety have consistently ranked behind the economy, threats to democracy and healthcare in NBC News polls of U.S. adults asked to name the issue that matters most to them over the last year.
But Trump and North Carolina Republicans see crime as a vulnerability for Cooper.
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Trump → show → Cooper
Trump devoted part of his speech to a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman, Iryna Zarutska, who was stabbed to death last year on a commuter train in Charlotte.
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who → devote → Charlotte
“You worked your entire life for everything you have,” Trump said.
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Trump → work → everything
“You saved your money, followed the law, and now Roy Cooper and his band of communists want to take everything you have and give it to people who would rob your house, invade your border, just shoot you dead.”
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who → save → you
Trump also used the speech to reassure voters who are squeezed by high fuel costs.
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who → use → costs
Gas prices have spiked since the Trump administration and Israel launched an attack on Iran on Feb. 28.
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administration → spike → Feb.
The price hike is temporary, Trump said.
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Trump → say → ?
“It’s a very inexpensive price to pay for what we’ve done,” he said.
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he → ’ → what
It’s a little more.
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It → ’ → ?
But that’s going to be coming tumbling down.
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that → go → ?
That’s going to be like a rocket ship in reverse.”
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That → go → reverse
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