Trump rallies supporters in Gastonia and Greensboro as NC wraps up early voting
Former President Donald Trump spent much of the last Saturday before Election Day appealing to voters in the key battleground state of North Carolina.
The Republican presidential nominee first held a rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport and took the stage about an hour after his scheduled start. He left Gastonia around 2:35 p.m.
After a quick stop in Virginia for another campaign event, Trump returned to the Tar Heel State for an evening rally in Greensboro.
His Democratic challenger is focused on North Carolina, too. Vice President Kamala Harris held her own rally in Charlotte Saturday night, featuring an appearance by actress Kerry Washington and musical performances from Jon Bon Jovi and Khalid.
Saturday was the final day of early voting in North Carolina, expected to be a critical state in the Electoral College. More than 3.8 million have already voted statewide, and the latest polls show a tied race.
The candidates and their surrogates will continue to campaign across the state right up to Election Day.
Trump will hold a rally in Kinston on Sunday and another in Raleigh on Monday. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and son Donald Trump Jr. are set to rally voters in Sanford on Sunday.
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will appear at an event in Charlotte Sunday. First lady Jill Biden will barnstorm the state on Monday, making stops in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Carrboro and Chapel Hill. Harris’ husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, will speak at an event in Greenville on Monday.
Here are updates from Trump’s rallies on Saturday.
Trump wraps up in Greensboro
10:39 p.m. Trump concluded his remarks shortly before 10:40 p.m. He spoke for about 80 minutes.
Before leaving the stage, he told his supporters: “Nov. 5 will be the most important day in the history of our country.”
As the event concluded, Trump and rally attendees danced to “Y.M.C.A.” as it played over the loudspeaker.
Trump promotes false claims about FEMA, touts tax plans
10 p.m. About 15 minutes into his remarks, Trump said: “I want to send our prayers to everyone here in North Carolina still recovering from Hurricane Helene.”
Trump then spent roughly four minutes talking about the federal government’s response to the storm, largely spreading misinformation that has previously been debunked. For instance, Trump said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was doing a “terrible job” handling recovery efforts in Western North Carolina because “they’ve spent all the money on illegal aliens coming into our country.”
As NPR reported in a fact-check about FEMA last month, “the money used in the aftermath of Helene and other major disasters is not part of FEMA’s operating budget, but instead comes from the Disaster Relief Fund, which is appropriated by Congress.”
Regarding the recent national jobs report, which showed that the country added 12,000 jobs last month, Trump said that immigrants were “taking jobs from African Americans and Hispanic Americans, and especially the African Americans.” In a report published last month, PBS debunked that claim.
Trump also promoted his plans to stop taxing tips, overtime and Social Security benefits, which garnered loud cheers from the crowd.
Around 10:15 p.m., as Trump was still speaking, some in the crowd had started to leave.
Trump arrives at Greensboro at the end of a long day
9:14 p.m. Trump took the stage, about an hour and 45 minutes later than scheduled.
He was preceded by Michael Whatley, the former chair of the North Carolina Republican Party who now chairs the Republican National Committee. Whatley said the U.S. would be “weak” under Harris, but “strong” under Trump.
The election will be an inflection point for North Carolina and the country, he said.
Elected officials speak ahead of Trump’s arrival
7:45 p.m. Several elected officials spoke ahead of Trump’s arrival in Greensboro, which was running behind schedule. He concluded his remarks in Virginia at 7:40 p.m., The New York Times reported, 10 minutes after he was originally scheduled to take the stage in Greensboro.
The event kicked off with Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late Rev. Billy Graham, giving the invocation. Graham, an evangelist who has supported Trump for more than a decade, said the former president “needs God to win this election.”
Other speakers included Addison McDowell, the Republican nominee for North Carolina’s 6th Congressional district, Dan Bishop, the Republican nominee for state attorney general, Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Budd and U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
McDowell proclaimed that he would “be the next congressman from the 6th district,” while Bishop proclaimed that, “in three days, I’m going to become the first Republican attorney general of North Carolina in 128 years.” A poll released by Elon University this week showed Bishop’s Democratic opponent, Jeff Jackson, ahead among North Carolina voters, 43% to Bishop’s 38%. The remaining voters were unsure of their choice (13%) or had not heard of either candidate (6%).
Budd encouraged rally-goers to “vote the whole Republican ballot because Donald Trump is going to need a lot of help.”
Supporters gather in Greensboro
5:35 p.m. Supporters were steadily filing into Trump’s second North Carolina rally of the day at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, formerly the Greensboro Coliseum, after doors opened a little after 4 p.m.
Several rally attendees wore trash bags over their clothes, apparent nods to President Joe Biden’s remark to Latino activists earlier in the week in which he appeared to refer to Trump supporters as “garbage.” Biden’s comment followed comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referring to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” at Trump’s rally last Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
At least two attendees wore garbage bags with a message printed on them: “Biden calls us garbage. Trump calls us Americans.”
Angie Rhodes, of Oak Ridge, wore a trash bag and a fluorescent safety vest, an allusion to the vests some sanitation workers wear — and the one Trump wore Wednesday aboard a garbage truck in Wisconsin.
Rhodes, a school bus driver, said she had not heard the full comment from Hinchcliffe, but took Biden’s remark “to heart.”
“That was not a good comment to make,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes, who was attending her first Trump rally, said she preferred Trump mostly for his economic policies, including his proposals to cut taxes for lower- and middle-class workers and to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits.
“I want to see people prosper in life,” Rhodes said. “I want people to have money in their pockets.”
Rhodes had already cast her ballot for Trump during the early-voting period, a change from previous years when she has voted on Election Day. Republican turnout during the early voting period in North Carolina is noticeably higher so far than it was in 2020, which follows Trump encouraging party voters to do so. Rhodes said Trump probably wouldn’t pick up any additional voters Saturday night, but the event would be “just a fun night for everybody.”
Like Rhodes, Sarah and Greg Tuttle of Yadkin County also voted early for Trump.
Sarah Tuttle said she likes Trump’s economic policies, among his other proposals. She believes Trump will “get the prices down where it’s affordable for regular people, secure the border and bring America back.”
Greg Tuttle said there wasn’t anything Trump could say Saturday evening “that I don’t already know,” and he was looking forward to the event.
“I just want to come out and support him,” Greg Tuttle said. “That’s all I want to do.”
Songs like “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton, “Mr. Brightside” by the Killers and “Africa” by Toto played over the loudspeaker as the arena filled in. The upper-level section of the arena was blocked off with black tarps, and attendees were being permitted to sit in roughly three-fourths of the lower bowl. The arena has a capacity of 22,000.
Trump ends speech in Charlotte
2:35 p.m. Trump said 50% of phone calls from Western North Carolina to federal agencies in the wake of Helene went unanswered — news reported Friday by Politico. The news outlet cited call data published by FEMA in saying the agency’s hurricane response encountered problems.
Trump also said desecrating the American flag should be punishable by one year in prison. And he concluded his remarks after more than an hour with his frequent campaign messages: that he will cut taxes, address illegal immigration and avoid “World War III.”
Trump left the stage at 2:35 p.m.
Jocelyn Nungaray case
2:02 p.m. Trump played a video of the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old who was murdered in Texas, criticizing Harris’s handling of immigration and endorsing him. Two undocumented immigrants from Venezuela have been arrested in the case, CNN reported.
Trump has repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail the South American country is sending people with criminal records to the U.S.
”She failed my daughter,” the mother said of Harris.
The crowd is beginning to thin out as Trump hits the one-hour mark on his speech.
Trump on Harris, women
1:52 p.m. Trump predicted he will overperform expectations with women voters and said Harris was named the Democratic nominee because of political correctness.
Trump said he can’t make comments about women’s physical appearance because it would hurt his campaign.
”If I said they were beautiful, it’s the end of your political career,” he said.
Assassination attempt, economy
1:28 p.m. Speaking about the assassination attempts he’s faced, Trump said he wasn’t aware when he entered politics it was a dangerous profession but that assassins tend to target “consequential presidents.”
“Nobody told me this ... But I wouldn’t have changed my mind,” he said.
After weaving through different topics, Trump predicted the latest jobs report would help his campaign, comparing President Joe Biden to former President Herbert Hoover.
The U.S. economy added 12,000 jobs in October, the smallest gain since December 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday.
”We cannot take four more years of this calamity,” he said. “... These are Depression-like numbers.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributed the numbers in part to strikes and the impacts of hurricanes Helene and Milton, CNBC reported.
Trump said he’s proposing a new tax credit for family caregivers.
”They’re angels,” he said of caregivers.
Harris previously announced a policy proposal for Medicare to cover in-home aid for seniors.
Trump takes the stage
Trump took the stage at 1:03 p.m. after a video aired that included clips of the attempt on his life in Butler, Pennsylvania and the former president saying he chose to run again in 2024 because the U.S. “has gone to hell.”
“Oh, this is a big crowd,” Trump said to begin his remarks as those in attendance chanted his name followed by “USA.”
Trump claimed there are 20,000 people at the event. His campaign staff told The Charlotte Observer earlier in the day there were 5,000 people expected.
Trump reiterated his frequent comments about illegal immigration, criticism of the Biden-Harris administration and false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
He touted his recent endorsement from former NFL quarterback Brett Favre.
90-minute break, WWE videos
12:55 p.m. After about a 90 minute break in speeches, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi took the stage followed by RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.
Bondi criticized businessman Mark Cuban for his comment that Trump doesn’t surround himself with “strong intelligent women.” Cuban has since apologized for the remark.
Whatley criticized Harris for her handling of immigration and the economy — frequent Republican talking points on the campaign trail.
Trump was scheduled to speak at noon but had not taken the stage as of 12:50 p.m. During the break in speeches, music played and a clip from a WWE event featuring Trump shaving the head of Vince McMahon aired on the two screens on site.
Dan Bishop speaks
11:17 a.m. U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, Republican nominee for attorney general, told the Gastonia crowd Trump’s political career has reignited “a love for America.”
“Every one of us has our part to play in this movement,” he said.
Bishop said if elected, he will support law enforcement and push for state and local law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials.
”I’m going to be the attorney general to restore law and order in North Carolina,” he said.
Bishop repeated his claims about his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson, having ties to Chad Turner, the president of the LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce who was convicted of a sex offense in 1998. Jackson previously told The Charlotte Observer he didn’t know about Turner’s past when he accepted an award from Turner in 2022.
Bishop also criticized Jackson for his endorsement from the editorial board of The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer, which said the Democrat is “a solid progressive but one who is willing to think and work across the aisle.” The endorsement said that Bishop “speaks partisan instead of policy.”
Congressional candidates Pat Harrigan, Tim Moore speak
11:11 a.m. Republican U.S. House candidate Pat Harrigan was the first speaker at Trump’s rally, saying Harris “broke” the U.S. economy as vice president. Harrigan, who’s running for the 10th Congressional District, also criticized the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan and immigration.
”The world burns today before our very eyes,” he said.
Harrigan claimed Harris wants to turn every city into a sanctuary city and spoke about people who are transgender having access to bathrooms and sports.
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, who’s also running for the U.S. House, spoke next and predicted Trump will carry North Carolina.
”We are going to turn this country around,” he said.
Moore said Democrats are “bankrupting” the country with their spending measures, including on undocumented immigrants.
Moore said President Biden didn’t visit North Carolina after Helene and just flew over the state “in his 747.”
Biden did a flyover in a helicopter in Western North Carolina after the storm. He also met on the ground in Raleigh with emergency management officials and state and local representatives.
Trump rally attendees there for the camaraderie
10:54 a.m. In general, attendees tell The Charlotte Observer they already know what Trump is going to say. They’re more excited to be here for the atmosphere and meeting other supporters.
“I think he really speaks for middle America, you know, the worker. I think his message resonates with people,” said Angela Weyenberg, a Davidson resident who said this is her first Trump rally. “It’s just more about being out here with like minds and getting into the spirit.”
A large number of people in North Carolina have already voted, including people like Weyenberg, who don’t typically vote early. that’s due in part to the Trump campaign making a concerted effort to get voters to the polls early this time around, even as Trump has advocated for single-day elections and paper ballots in future elections.
Screens next to the stage at the rally in Gastonia said, “Vote Early!”
One attendee, Waxhaw resident Eva Gagan, said she voted early for the first time this year and previously thought only voters above the age of 65 were eligible to do so.
She’s glad more Republicans are turning out to vote early than prior years.
“You know, it’s about time. People need to vote,” Gagan said. “They think their vote doesn’t count, but it does.”
Crowd filing in for Trump’s Gastonia rally
10:15 a.m. The seating area for Trump’s rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport was filling up by 10 a.m., about two hours before the former president is scheduled to speak.
By 10:15 a.m., some were being directed to standing room only areas.
Rally goers applauded when a pre-taped video of Trump ran on two video boards. Trump said in the video he wants to limit voting to paper ballots and accused Democrats of cheating in elections. He encouraged supporters to vote early.
A press aide told reporters the campaign is expecting about 5,000 attendees at the Gastonia event.
Harris campaign: Trump ‘scrambling’ to win NC
In a statement ahead of Trump’s Gastonia rally, the Harris campaign claimed the Republican nominee is “scrambling” to keep North Carolina in his win column. Republicans haven’t lost the state since former President Barack Obama turned it blue in 2008.
“Trump wants to rip away our fundamental freedoms and raise costs on North Carolina families – but voters are turning out in droves because we’re ready for a new way forward with Vice President Harris, who will make it easier for hardworking people to get by and thrive,” spokesman Michael Zhadanovsky said.
Trump won North Carolina in 2016 and 2020, but he posted his slimmest margin of victory of any state here in 2020.
The former president will hold four events in North Carolina before Election Day. Harris will rally in Charlotte Saturday night.
This story was originally published November 2, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
