Donald Trump visited North Carolina for a rally amid controversy involving the state’s GOP gubernatorial candidate, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Robinson, a Republican running to replace Democratic Governor Roy Cooper, came under fire for comments made over a decade ago where he referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” on a pornographic website.
The Trump campaign distanced itself from Robinson, excluding him from the rally and avoiding any mention of him during Trump’s speech. This marks a shift, as Robinson had previously spoken at several Trump rallies in support of the campaign.
The Trump campaign clarified its focus remains on winning the presidency and emphasized the importance of North Carolina in their strategy. Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the campaign, stated that Trump’s message centers on his previous record of a strong economy, low inflation, secure borders, and safe streets compared to what the campaign frames as the failures of the Biden-Harris administration.
Donald Trump
She reiterated the campaign’s intent to stay focused on winning the election and not allowing distractions to derail their efforts.
The controversy surrounding Mark Robinson stems from past remarks on a pornography website where he called for reinstating slavery and admitted to watching transgender pornography. These comments sharply contrast his public persona as a Christian conservative opposed to abortion and vocal against transgender rights.
Robinson’s controversial statements have created a potential rift within the Republican Party in North Carolina, prompting Trump’s team to distance itself from the lieutenant governor during this critical stage of the campaign.
In response to the scandal, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign seized the opportunity to launch a television ad connecting Trump with Robinson, attempting to leverage the controversy for political gain.
The Democratic campaign made no public appearances on the same day but continued to focus on key battleground states like North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, where both Harris and Democratic allies like Minnesota Governor Tim Walz campaigned. These states are seen as crucial for the 2024 election.
At Trump’s rally, supporters arrived early to see the former president, and security was tight as Secret Service agents checked attendees.
During his speech, Trump reiterated his promise to fight illegal immigration, vowing to push for federal action against sanctuary cities and to strengthen law enforcement powers if reelected. The rally highlighted Trump’s ongoing focus on immigration and crime as major campaign issues, aiming to rally support in battleground states like North Carolina.
