- "You can't lead America, if you don't love Americans," Trump told the Rocky Mount crowd.
Former president Donald Trump delivered remarks at a rally in Rocky Mount, Nash County Wednesday, part of North Carolina’s first congressional district and the only congressional contest rated a toss-up in the 2024 election. He was preceded on stage by Republican candidate for the first district, Laurie Buckhout, who faces incumbent Democrat Don Davis; North Carolina Congressman Richard Hudson, R-09, who also serves as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC); and, Congressman Tom Emmers, R-MN, US House Majority Whip.
Trump supporters lined up hours before the early afternoon rally held at the Rocky Mount Event Center less than a week before Election Day. Upon taking the stage, he asked the crowd if they were better off than they were four years ago, to which the crowd of a few thousand responded with a thunderous, “No!”
“I’m asking you to dream big again, you’re gonna have to dream big again,” Trump encouraged the crowd. “It’s gonna be hard for you to do that because you’ve gone through a long period, but we had a great four years. This will be America’s new golden age. This will be better than what we had even four years ago.”
The former president boasted of a return to energy independence, tamer inflation, and secure borders, contrasting those promises with attacks on Democratic opponent and current Vice President Kamala Harris.
“She’s the worst border czar in the history of the world,” Trump quipped, referring to Harris. “There’s never been a border in the history of the world that allowed criminals to pour through — 21 million people, think of it. Well, we’re running a campaign of solutions to save America; an America, which [Biden and Harris] have virtually destroyed during their almost four year period of rule.”
Responding to President Joe Biden’s recent comments referring to Trump supporters as “garbage,” Trump said his response was very simple: “You can’t lead America, if you don’t love Americans.”
The former tv star and real estate mogul said he loves North Carolina, noting his electoral wins in the Tar Heel State in 2016 and 2020, and pointing to Republicans strong showing in early voting within the state as a hopeful sign for 2024.
Despite the early voting metrics favoring Republicans, recent polling in the state indicates the contest for the White House remains a close one. NCGOP leaders aren’t taking anything for granted, either.
When asked for reaction to the Harris campaign significantly shrinking a planned ad buy for the last days before the election, party insiders indicated their foot remains firmly pressed to the gas pedal, noting the Harris campaign remains active in the state and on the airwaves.
Harris rallied in North Carolina Wednesday as well, stopping in Raleigh for a campaign event. She’s expected back in the state this weekend as early voting comes to a close. Her running mate, Tim Walz, is visiting holding multiple campaign events across the state this week, while Trump running mate Sen. JD Vance plans to hold a rally in Selma, Johnston County, on Friday.
Trump himself will return to Greensboro on Saturday evening for a rally before Tuesday’s general election.
In addition to top issues regarding the economy, energy, and illegal immigration, Trump described the resiliency of western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s disastrous flooding.
“But in North Carolina, these are people that have been devastated; that lost their home, at a minimum, especially in certain areas, they broke records in every single area, and some of the people they they did even have a home left,” Trump said of the disaster area. “Number one was, it’s bad and people die, that’s by far the most important., but from the standpoint of the voting, I said, you know, if we get Thirty or forty percent of it, amazing, that’s great — but the numbers are definitely great, we’re doing great [in early voting.]”
“I think it’s a great credit to North Carolina,” Trump asserted, referring to the efforts to ensure voting access following the storms devastation.
Trump made sure to call attention to Republican candidate for CD-01, Laurie Buckhout, during his remarks, urging attendees to send her to Washington, DC, to help reverse what he described as Democrats’ damaging policies.
Carolina Journal spoke with Buckhout before Trump took the stage, and asked what might be different about this cycle that gives Republicans a chance to pick up a historically Democrat-held seat in northeastern North Carolina? She pointed to high enthusiasm driving high turnout as the difference-maker.
“The energy is unbelievable; people are really positive; people are really fired up,” Buckhout responded. “The early voting statistics are absolutely through the roof because people want to have their voices heard. They are serious about this election and you see it all over the district. [The first district] is a very rural District; you see farmers getting out, you see extended family members getting out, you see folks who want jobs getting out, you see folks who are ready for a good economy getting out — everyone’s out to vote, it’s great!”
When asked which top issue she first plans to focus on in DC she and Republicans win the opportunity set policy priorities in the nation’s capital?
“Drill, baby, drill,” Buckhout said. “We got to bring back our energy so we can have a decent economy again. It’s got a huge impact across the entire economy — our national energy status does — you’ve got to become energy independent once again.”
Both the Trump and Harris campaigns are expected to hold additional North Carolina campaign events in the closing days of the 2024 presidential contest. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.