Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Trump Campaigns in North Carolina, Attacks Democrats Over Crime
Donald Trump visited North Carolina to support Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley.
Whatley is running against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.
Trump said Democrats are too soft on crime and are becoming communist.
The report said those claims exaggerate the Democratic Party’s position.
Trump also criticized Cooper over a settlement that reduced North Carolina’s prison population during the COVID era.
Polls showed Cooper ahead of Whatley.
Many North Carolina voters are unaffiliated, so both candidates need their support.
Republicans are also trying to address concerns about high costs and fuel prices.
Donald Trump campaigned in Gastonia for Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley, who trails Democrat Roy Cooper in polls.
Trump called Democrats communists and accused Cooper of supporting policies that would release criminal migrants onto North Carolina streets.
A 2021 COVID-era settlement released about 3,500 North Carolina inmates while Cooper was governor, according to the report.
An Elon University poll showed Cooper leading Whatley 49% to 38% among likely voters.
Republicans face challenges with affordability, fuel prices and unaffiliated voters, who represent about 40% of North Carolina’s registered electorate.
- Who
- Donald Trump, Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper were central figures.
- What
- Trump held a campaign appearance and attacked Democrats while supporting Whatley’s Senate campaign.
- When
- Wednesday, September 16; the year was not specified in the article.
- Where
- Gastonia, North Carolina.
- Why
- Trump was seeking to help Whatley close the polling gap and support Republicans ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Trump and Republican campaign framing
Polling and reported evidence
Crime and prison releases
Trump and Republican campaign framing
Trump accused Democrats and Roy Cooper of being soft on crime and said Cooper wanted migrant criminals released onto North Carolina streets.
Polling and reported evidence
The report characterized Trump’s claims as exaggerated and described the prison releases as part of a 2021 COVID-era settlement; it did not establish that the inmates were migrant criminals.
Democratic ideology
Trump and Republican campaign framing
Trump called Democrats communists and warned that the United States could become a communist or socialist nation.
Polling and reported evidence
The report said the Democratic Party has seen the rise of a few democratic socialists but is far from communist.
Affordability
Trump and Republican campaign framing
Trump blamed Democrats for affordability problems, said his administration had addressed the egg crisis, and warned of a depression if Democrats regained power.
Polling and reported evidence
Republican strategist Paul Shumaker said Republicans needed to address affordability and reassure unaffiliated voters about the economy; the report also cited high gasoline and diesel prices.
- Senate race
- Michael Whatley is running against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper for a North Carolina Senate seat.
- Elon University poll
- Cooper led Whatley 49% to 38% among likely voters.
- Trump approval in North Carolina poll
- 54% of surveyed North Carolina voters disapproved of Trump’s job performance, while 31% approved.
- Unaffiliated voters
- They account for roughly 40% of North Carolina’s registered electorate.
- Prison settlement
- About 3,500 inmates were released during a 2021 COVID-era settlement that reduced the state’s prison population.
- Fuel prices
- The national average for regular gasoline was $4.33 per gallon, while diesel reached $6.27, according to AAA.
- Election stakes
- All 435 House seats and 34 of the Senate’s 100 seats were scheduled to be contested in the midterm elections.