Under the Dome: NC leaders respond to Trump’s first actions in office
Good morning and welcome to the Under the Dome newsletter. I’m Emily Vespa.
There was a flurry of North Carolina news — and snow — Tuesday as state leaders, including Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson, began to respond to President Donald Trump’s first actions in office.
But first up, a former Tar Heel gymnast could vault to a top post in the Federal Communications Commission. Trump last week nominated UNC-Chapel Hill graduate Olivia Trusty as his pick for commissioner.
While at UNC, Trusty, who competed all-around on the gymnastics team, set some of the highest scores in school history, including a then-program record for uneven bars. In 2005, she was named the conference senior of the year. UNC gymnastics won two conference championships during her time on the team.
Trusty graduated from UNC and Georgetown University. She currently works as a policy director for the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee. The appointment is pending Senate confirmation.
JACKSON CHALLENGES TRUMP ORDER ON BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP
North Carolina joined 17 other states in a lawsuit challenging Trump’s Monday executive order to end birthright citizenship, reports Avi Bajpai.
The lawsuit argues that the order violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Jackson said the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship for over a century, and it “remains a bedrock of our constitutional framework.”
“The Constitution leaves no room for executive reinterpretation on this matter — it is clear, settled, and binding,” Jackson said in a news release. “This order seeks to undermine that clarity, creating legal uncertainty and denying fundamental rights to children born in this country.”
Currently, most U.S.-born children are granted citizenship, regardless of their parents’ legal status.
Trump’s executive order blocks federal agencies from issuing documents recognizing the citizenship of children born in the country to parents without permanent legal status. He has previously said it will “choke off a major incentive for continued illegal immigration, deter more migrants from coming, and encourage many of the aliens Joe Biden has unlawfully let into our country to go back to their home countries.”
TRUMP PLANS VISIT TO WESTERN NC FRIDAY
Trump plans to visit Western North Carolina on Friday, reports Danielle Battaglia.
The New York Post first reported the plan, which is one of the first trips of Trump’s second term. Trump repeatedly criticized Hurricane Helene recovery efforts during his campaign and in his inaugural address Monday, saying the people of North Carolina “have been treated so badly.”
Gov. Josh Stein confirmed the trip at a news conference Tuesday and said he hopes to meet with Trump while he’s in the state.
“I think that is very good news for the people of Western North Carolina that this issue is front of mind for the new administration,” Stein said.
STATE LAWMAKER RESIGNS, CITING TERMINAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Democratic Rep. Joe John on Sunday announced his resignation from the state House after an 8-year tenure representing northwestern Wake County, citing a terminal cancer diagnosis, reports Kyle Ingram.
“This decision, though incredibly difficult, is made with the intention of focusing on my health and spending cherished time with my family during this challenging period,” John, 85, said on Facebook. “Throughout this journey, I’ve given everything I have, and I am deeply proud of the work we’ve done together as a community.”
The county Democratic Party will pick a replacement for John, who was elected to his fifth term representing District 40 in November. Before his time at the state legislature, he served for nearly 25 years as a judge in the state district, superior and appeals courts.
Stein thanked John for his service Monday.
“While his impact on the lives of North Carolinians will be lasting, his leadership will be sorely missed,” Stein said on X. “Anna and I send him and his family our love and prayers.”
WHAT ELSE WE’RE WORKING ON
Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi sat down with State Treasurer Brad Briner to talk about his short- and long-term plans as treasurer, including the recently announced potential premium hike in the State Health Plan.
Today’s newsletter was by Emily Vespa. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol.
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This story was originally published January 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Under the Dome: NC leaders respond to Trump’s first actions in office."