GOP VP candidate JD Vance faces questions about Robinson during Charlotte campaign stop
Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance faced questions Monday about the Trump campaign’s past support for North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson during a campaign stop in Charlotte.
The Ohio senator addressed supporters at Central Piedmont Community College’s Dale F. Halton Theater and a “Believers and Ballots” event at Freedom House Church. He also made an unannounced stop at the Billy Graham Library.
Former President Donald Trump has endorsed North Carolina’s Republican candidate for governor but didn’t mention him or a recent scandal Saturday during a rally in Wilmington.
But Monday, Vance was asked about CNN’s recent report on alleged comments made by Robinson a decade ago on a pornographic website’s message board.
“What (Robinson) said or didn’t say is ultimately between him and the people of North Carolina,” Vance told a reporter at CPCC.
Asked by another reporter if he would continue to support Robinson’s campaign, Vance said he would “continue to support the people of North Carolina.”
When a third reporter questioned whether that meant the Trump campaign would rescind its Robinson endorsement, the crowd booed loudly and Vance gave a similar answer.
Vance addresses inflation
During his address at the theater, Vance pledged to increase domestic oil production and crack down on drug trafficking if elected. He laid the blame for inflation on the Biden-Harris administration and claimed undocumented immigrants are contributing to a housing shortage in the U.S.
The senator said it would be “easy” to reduce inflation with “common sense” economic policies, but he did not elaborate on what those policies would be.
Vance also spoke at Freedom House Church, which has encountered its share of controversy. There, he shared stories about his experience with religion and how former Trump offered him the VP slot. He also called the 2024 election a referendum on “religious liberty.”
He said Christians in other countries are persecuted for their beliefs and practices. The same could happen in the U.S. if “opponents” of religious freedom are elected, Vance claimed.
”Don’t believe that it can’t happen here,” he said.
Both major party campaigns remain focused on North Carolina in the election’s home stretch.
Vance held a rally in Raleigh last week, and Trump will visit Mint Hill this week. Vice President Kamala Harris held two rallies in North Carolina earlier this month to kick off a nationwide tour after her first presidential debate.
“North Carolina is becoming a second home to me,” Vance joked at CPCC.
Trump’s lead in the state is down to less than half a percentage point, according to RealClearPolitics’ average.
Below are live updates from Vance’s visit to Charlotte, with the most recent at the top:
Vance leaves Charlotte
Vance boarded his campaign plane to depart Charlotte just before 8 p.m.
Vance ends speech at Freedom House Church
7:31 p.m. Vance concluded his event with a call for attendees to vote and encourage family and friends to do so too.
“Our God is a God of hope,” he said.
Vance addresses assassination attempts
7:17 p.m. Vance said he was “shaken up” this month when Trump called to tell him police arrested a person for what law enforcement call an attempted assassination.
A man from Greensboro, Ryan Wesley Routh, traveled to south Florida and set up a “sniper’s nest” along the fence of Trump’s golf club, the Miami Herald reported Monday. Secret Service spotted the muzzle of a rifle sticking out of the tree line before firing in Routh’s direction.
The incident happened two months after Trump was grazed by a bullet at a rally in Pennsylvania.
“I believe that Donald Trump is here by the grace of God,” Vance said.
Vance: Election will ‘determine the course of religious liberty’
7:09 p.m. Vance said the 2024 election will “determine the course of religious liberty” in the United States.
He said Christians in other countries are persecuted for their beliefs and practices. The same could happen in the U.S. if “opponents” of religious freedom are elected, Vance claimed.
”Don’t believe that it can’t happen here,” he said.
Vance also accused Harris of letting “progressives” take over public schools and “weaponizing the federal government” against parents.
Vance said he got VP nomination call just before “deadline”
7:02 p.m. Vance said Trump didn’t call him until the Monday afternoon of the Republican National Convention to offer him the vice presidential slot — the “deadline” to do so.
Vance said he didn’t answer Trump’s first call, with Trump calling back after a campaign staffer texted Vance to tell him to answer the phone. The former president teased that he might need to pick someone else because of the missed first call, Vance said.
Vance describes religious upbringing
6:57 p.m. Speaking about his faith, Vance said his grandmother was a pivotal figure in his upbringing.
He recalled that she didn’t attend church services frequently but enjoyed watching Billy Graham revivals. Vance said he sometimes called himself an “atheist” as a young adult, which he attributed to “arrogance.”
“One of the things that really led me back to the Lord was the idea that I didn’t know everything,” he said.
Vance said marriage and fatherhood further drew him back into Christianity, noting he was baptized in 2019.
”I found the answers in the Christian faith of my grandmother,” he said.
Vance offers prayers for injured CMPD officer
6:52 p.m. Vance began his comments with a moment of silence for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer shot and wounded Sunday night. A suspect was also shot, according to police.
The incident occurred Sunday night when police responded to a report about an assault with a deadly weapon in southwest Charlotte.
”We will always back the blue in this county,” he said.
Elect religious candidates to school boards, RNC chair says
6:50 p.m. Vance took the stage at Freedom House Church for the “Believers and Ballots” event courting religious voters. He was introduced by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, the former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party.
Whatley said the country is facing a “serious” time and compared the election to President Ronald Reagan’s first race for the White House.
Whatley pledged to keep the Republican Party “the party of faith.”
“I choose this path because I’m a Christian ... I believe that we need more, not less, men and women of faith in office,” he said, adding he believes it’s especially important to elect religious candidates to school boards.
Vance takes questions, including on Robinson scandal
5:45 p.m. Asked about CNN’s report on GOP gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson’s comments on a pornographic website’s message board, Vance said “what (Robinson) said or didn’t say is ultimately between him and the people of North Carolina”
Vance called the news media “broken” for not focusing on economic issues and drug overdoses.
“A sex scandal in North Carolina is between the lieutenant governor and the people of North Carolina,” he said.
Asked by another reporter if he would continue to support Robinson’s campaign, Vance said he would “continue to support the people of North Carolina.” When a third reporter questioned whether that meant the Trump campaign is rescinding its Robinson endorsement, the crowd booed loudly and Vance gave a similar answer.
Asked whether he would change anything about his false claims of immigrants eating pets in Springfield, Ohio, Vance said his “responsibility is to listen to the people that I serve, not the biased media.”
Vance claimed that immigrants are putting a strain on local governments and school systems.
The event at Central Piedmont Community College ended just before 6 p.m.
Vance: ‘Drill, baby, drill’
5:38 p.m. In comments similar to those Trump made earlier this summer during a campaign stop in Asheville, Vance said he’s in favor of increasing domestic oil production. It will help decrease energy costs, Vance said.
“Drill, baby, drill,” Vance said.
Vance said Republicans want “clean air and clean water,” but he’s concerned some policies meant to protect the environment hurt the economy.
Vance calls for more action on fentanyl overdoses
5:30 p.m. Vance pledged that a second Trump administration would crack down on the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and reduce drug overdoses.
“We need a president that’s going to go to war with the Mexican drug cartels,” he said.
Vance shared the story of his mother, who is now sober but dealt with drug addiction for years. The senator first rose to prominence with his memoir about the experience, “Hillbilly Elegy.”
Vance blames housing costs on undocumented immigrants
5:20 p.m. Vance told the crowd at Halton Theater undocumented immigrants are to blame for scarcity in the housing market and rising housing costs.
“This border invasion has made home ownership unaffordable for the majority of American families,” he said.
Vance’s comments sparked chants of “USA” from the crowd.
The senator said it would be “easy” to reduce inflation with “common sense” economic policies, but he did not elaborate on what those policies would be.
Vance: NC ‘is one of our most important states’
5:15 p.m. Vance said North Carolina is “one of our most important states” in the upcoming presidential election.
“North Carolina is becoming a second home to me,” he said.
The candidate accused Harris of being “afraid” of the media and not having specific plans to combat economic issues, such as inflation. Both are frequent criticisms from Republicans.
Dan Bishop speaks at Vance event
5:05 p.m. Rep. Dan Bishop, the Republican nominee for state attorney general, was among those who spoke ahead of Vance at his event at Halton Theater.
Appearing to allude to CNN’s report, Bishop accused “Democrats and allies” of “a meticulously timed and coordinated character assassination.” Democrats “immediately sent mailings, ads, broadcasts and posts smearing all Republicans by association while claiming the high ground,” Bishop said.
Vance took the stage shortly thereafter, to chants of “JD.”
Vance visits Billy Graham Library
4:17 p.m. Vance made an unannounced visit to the Billy Graham Library on the way to his speeches.
The senator visited the grave of Graham and his wife before entering the library for a tour of its exhibits, including a replica of one of Graham’s revival tents.
Graham’s son, Franklin Graham, spoke at this year’s Republican National Convention.
Vance and his wife, Usha, were joined by Graham’s granddaughter, Cissie Graham Lynch. They could be heard discussing Graham’s work and the NFL career of Graham Lynch’s husband, Corey Lynch.
Vance arrives in Charlotte
Vance arrived in Charlotte shortly before 4 p.m.
He was greeted on the tarmac by North Carolina Republic Party Chairman Jason Simmons and Michael Whatley, Republican National Committee chairman.
Charlotte Dems tie Republican ticket to Mark Robinson
Ahead of Vance’s visit, Charlotte-area Democrats tried to tie the top of the Republican ticket to Lt. Gov. Robinson.
Robinson’s run for governor was upended last week when CNN published a story alleging he made a series of sexually explicit and racist comments on the message board of an adult website. Robinson has denied he made the posts.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles on Monday called Robinson Trump’s “hand-picked candidate.”
“Trump continues to stand by Robinson because they share the same extreme Project 2025 agenda to rip away our freedoms, raise costs on families and hurt the middle class,” she said.
Nicole Sidman, the Democrat running to unseat controversial state Rep. Tricia Cotham, also spoke at Monday’s preemptive rebuttal, calling out Republicans for restricting access to abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.
“For North Carolina women and their loved ones, the choice is clear. We have to stop Donald Trump, Mark Robinson, and Tricia Cotham and MAGA Republicans in the legislature at the ballot box,” she said.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 4:07 PM.
