Updated as of 5:52 p.m. on Oct. 22 to include additional comment.
Former President Trump has held multiple rallies in North Carolina in the weeks leading up to election day. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Trump is campaigning in Greensboro at Minges Coliseum. Trump is expected to speak at 7 p.m., but attendees have been gathering as early as 11 a.m.
Trump gathers in the Tar Heel state as early voting began last Thursday, Oct. 17 and election day is exactly two weeks away. North Carolina is a swing state with 16 electoral votes, and polls have shown Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris virtually tied in North Carolina.
Stands selling Trump merchandise lined the Coliseum parking lot. One seller, Sany Dash, said she has been to 144 rallies and originally gave away hats for free before turning it into a business. Her biggest concern this election is the economy.
Another attendee, Tory Valentine, also lists the economy as his most important issue.
“One thing I've noticed, especially over the course of the last four years, is that my wallet is certainly not feeling as good as it was prior to COVID,” Valentine said. “The economy is definitely a number one issue.”
Valentine also said he was concerned about foreign policy, and pointed toward the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas Wars — which broke out in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Valentine said he believes Trump is the peace candidate in this election.
“None of it matters if the world is blown up,” Valentine said. “So having peace in the world, I think, is very important.”
Valentine also said he believes the circumstances of this election have made it even more important to get involved in politics.
“I don't think we're ever going to have an election like this again,” Valentine said.
This event was attendee Terry Holyfield’s fifth Trump rally, who said messaging on Trump’s abortion policy has been poorly represented.
“They got him wrong about that,” Holyfield said. “Not like he banning abortion completely.”
Holyfield said she was not originally a supporter of Trump but has since changed her opinion and hopes Trump will be able to change things with the economy and border security.
“I used to hate him. I never knew him,” Holyfield said. “Until you actually listen to him and pay attention to him. He’s awesome.”
Alternatively, Tiffany Evans has never attended a Trump rally but decided to come because of the current state of the country. She mentioned recent Harris comments at a campaign stop in Wisconsin on Oct. 17 when Harris was interrupted by someone yelling, “Jesus is Lord” and speculation arose over whether or not she responded by telling them they were “at the wrong rally.”
“I believe everybody has a place here in America,” Evans said. “So for somebody to exclude Christians like that, it's just very upsetting.”
But according to Evans, Trump is for everybody.
Inside the Coliseum, every chair was occupied — with many attendees standing. Trump’s podium was located at the center of the room and flanked by two jumbotrons showing purchasable merchandise, advertisement campaigns and videos of Trump pushing people to “swamp the vote.” These videos also included Trump reflecting on the past eight years of his life in the public eye — including his indictments.
The event began at 5:25 p.m. with Central Baptist Church leader Dean Hunter beginning with an invocation.
Michael Zhadanovsky, a representative of the North Carolina Democrats coordinated campaign, contacted Elon News Network with information about a press conference held in response to Trump’s stop in Greensboro.
The virtual event was held by former Republican Congressman for South Carolina Bob Ingles, former Senior Trump Administration National Security Official Olivia Troye and North Carolina Sen. Michael Garrett.
According to Zhadanovsky, the conference was intended to “call out how Donald Trump’s agenda is too extreme for mainstream Republicans and too extreme for North Carolina.”
“Today’s speakers delivered a clear message to North Carolinians: Trump has become increasingly unstable and unhinged,” Zhadanovsky wrote to Elon News Network. “His Project 2025 agenda would give him unprecedented virtually unchecked power to hurt the middle class, seniors, and his political opponents. It’s time to build a bipartisan coalition to finally turn the page on Trump, and elect Vice President Harris.”