Updated as of 11:05 p.m. on Oct. 25 to include more video and photos from the event.
Former president Donald Trump has held multiple rallies in North Carolina in the weeks leading up to election day. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, Trump made a campaign stop in Greensboro at the Special Event Center in Minges Coliseum, with attendees gathering as early as 11 a.m.
Trump gathered in the Tar Heel state as early voting began last Thursday, Oct. 17 and election day 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.
Trump took to the stage and criticized the Biden-Harris administration and the media, with him taking the stage to a crowd of cheers and chants.
Trump called Harris incompetent and a “radical left lunatic,” which are names he has used for her in previous interviews and campaign stops. He then switched from criticizing Harris to condemning the media — gathered at the back of the event — which caused the crowd to boo.
“You ought to start looking at the fake news media,” Trump said during the event. “If we had an honest press, a press that wrote the truth, we would be so much further along as a country.”
Trump then spoke about Harris’ interview with 60 Minutes, which CBS admitted to editing to make her answer more succinct. Trump demanded that there be “justice.”
“This is called major election interference fraud,” Trump said. “I actually think it's the biggest scandal in broadcast history, so we're probably going to take them to court.”
Trump also addressed his plans for border control and his thoughts on Harris’ policies.
“She’s a stupid person,” Trump said. “They're going to let all their prisoners out into our country, and you have open borders, there's no check in, there's no vetting.”
He also said he would impose the death penalty on any immigrant that kills an American citizen or law enforcement officer.
In addition to Trump, the rally featured several guests — including Central Baptist Church leader Dean Hunter, former Trump aide Peter Navarro, North Carolina Sen. Ted Budd and North Carolina Congresspeople Virginia Foxx and Addison McDowell.
Navarro advocated for Trump and highlighted his negotiating skills, economic policy on China and political approach when contrasted to Harris.
“Kamala Harris is Bill Clinton in a pantsuit and Hillary with a cackle,” Navarro said.
Budd took the stage and disparaged Harris’ border policy and economic record. He called out her promises of lowering prices by emphasizing her role in the White House the past four years.
“All we have to do is elect her as president, we’ll find out how great her plan is. We’ve heard that one forever,” Budd said. “Well there’s one big problem with that. She’s already had four years in office. Why didn’t she fix it now?”
Former congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard also took to the stage to share her thoughts on the Democratic Party.
“Today's Democrat Party is completely unrecognizable,” Gabbard said. “The party of Kamala Harris, she is anti freedom, she is pro censorship, she is pro open borders and she is pro war without even pretending to care about peace.”
Gabbard then announced that she would be changing her affiliation from Independent to Republican and endorsed Trump on stage.
“I'm proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I'm joining the Republican Party,” Gabbard said. “The party of the people, the party of equality, the party that was founded to fight against and end slavery in this country. It is the party of common sense and the party that is led by a president who has the courage and strength to fight for peace.”
Rally attendees hold a sign saying "I'll be back take two" on Oct. 22 in the parking lot of the Special Events Center at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Trump also asked attendees to vote for him, both during early voting and on Nov. 5, which was a departure from Trump’s messaging during the 2020 election when he casted skepticism on early voting practices.
“With your vote this November, we are going to fire Kamala Harris,” Trump said. “We will have a landslide of an election that’s too big to rig. Early voting is underway so get everyone you know.”
In response to Trump’s stop in Greensboro, Michael Zhadanovsky, director of rapid response for the North Carolina Democrats coordinated campaign, contacted Elon News Network with information about a press conference held in response to Trump coming to 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.”
“A second Donald Trump presidency would mean the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, kicking over 1.5 million North Carolinians off of their health care coverage,” Garrett said in a press release. “Our community deserves better than a second Trump presidency, and we’re ready to elect Vice President Harris and Governor Walz.”
Inside the Special Events Center, 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.
Stands selling Trump merchandise lined the Special Event Center 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. She said her biggest concern this election is the economy.
Attendee Tory Valentine also said the economy was 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 told Elon News Network. “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’s 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 said she has never attended a Trump rally but decided to come because of the current state of the country. She pointed to recent comments made by Harris at her campaign stop in Wisconsin on Oct. 17 when she was interrupted by someone yelling, “Jesus is Lord.” Speculation arose over whether or not she responded to them, or someone else in the crowd, by saying 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.
Attendee Debbie Brooks said she feels confident in Trump’s ability to implement his policies if reelected.
“He’s going to do everything he says he’s going to do just like he did last time. I’m looking forward to that,” Brooks said.
She said her two biggest issues this election season are the border and the economy. She said she believes getting the border closed will solve many problems facing America today.
Fellow attendee Christy Flannery said she was happy to attend the event in person and hear from Trump directly.
“It's nice to be able to hear in one long speech about what his hopes are for this country,” Flannery said. “It was a confirmation of what I feel needs to take place in this country.”
Flannery’s biggest concerns this election season also include the economy, the border and the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars. Despite Trump and his guests’ push for early voting, Flannery is choosing to vote on Nov. 5.
“I want my vote to count,” Flannery said. “If I vote on election day, it's definitely being counted versus if I vote early they're only going to count the early votes if they need to.”
Trump’s next stop on his campaign will be in Traverse City, Michigan on Oct. 25, with his campaign making other stops in Pennsylvania and New York.
Early voting in North Carolina opened Oct. 17 and will close at 3 p.m. on Nov. 2.
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