Trump touts his economic plan in NC, says administration has brought 53K jobs to state this year

President Donald Trump on Friday night touted some of the economic successes his administration has brought to North Carolina as part of his national affordability tour ahead of next year's 2026 midterms. 

The president addressed supporters in Rocky Mount, to help renew support for the Republican Party ahead of the 2026 midterms in which former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is running for Senate.

Trump said his administration has brought 53,000 jobs to the battleground state since taking office in January and lifted more than 150,000 residents off of food stamps.

The president also said he helped to rebuild the state after a hurricane devastated the state last year. 

"After your horrible hurricane, which produced more water damage than any hurricane in history, the Democrats let you down," Trump said. "You had to wait till January 20, when I took office, that we really knocked the hell out of it. Remember, soon as I took office ... First thing I did was made North Carolina phone calls, and we did a hell of a job."

Trump additionally praised Whatley as "phenomenal" and "incredible," and reminded voters to support his campaign. Former Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is the frontrunner for the Democratic nod.

"You got to get Michael Watley. It's going to be so important," Trump said. "He was so great. Don't forget. I took Michael and I put him as the head of the party because he did so great. We won the state all three times, and it was like a rock."

The North Carolina primary will take place on March 3, 2026.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.