Trump, Vance visiting NC to speak on national security during Democrats’ convention
Former President Donald Trump plans to return to North Carolina on Wednesday to give another policy speech, and this time he’s bringing his running mate, Sen. JD Vance.
A news release from the Trump campaign said Trump and Vance plan to visit the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame to discuss national security. The event will take place while Democrats are in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.
In a news release Saturday night, the Trump campaign faulted Trump’s opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, for problems at the southern border, a botched withdrawal of military troops from Afghanistan and the Hamas-Israel war.
“President Trump and Senator Vance know that America cannot take another four years of weak leadership and a careless approach to our national security,” the news release stated. ”A Trump-Vance Administration will Make America Great Again by stopping the migrant invasion and carrying out the largest deportation in our country’s history, curbing Chinese and Iranian threats, and making America strong again by restoring America’s rightful standing and respect on the world stage.”
Wednesday’s visit is Trump’s fourth to the state in 2024 and Vance’s first. Trump visited Asheville last week. Vance had planned to be in North Carolina on Aug. 8, in a bit of counter-programming against Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz, but all three had to cancel due to Tropical Storm Debby.
Trump has been far less of a presence in North Carolina than his opponent, who just visited for the eighth time during the 2024 election cycle. North Carolina typically elects Republican presidents, and Trump won the state in 2020 with 1.3% of the vote. But recent polls from the New York Times and the Cook Political Report show Harris with a slight lead — though within the margin of error.
And Trump might be taking a page out of Harris’ playbook by visiting the state during the Republican National Convention. Harris did the same counter-programming against Trump’s acceptance speech, though at the time, she was still running for vice president.
Many big-name Democrats will be giving speeches at the Democrats’ convention, including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, who is expected to introduce Walz to the delegates Wednesday night.
Democrats have already taken a roll-call vote that officially made Harris the party’s presidential nominee, but a ceremonial roll call vote is expected to take place and Harris is anticipated to formally accept the nomination Thursday.
Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Asheboro. Tickets to the Trump-Vance rally are available online.
This story was originally published August 17, 2024 at 9:18 PM with the headline "Trump, Vance visiting NC to speak on national security during Democrats’ convention."