Trump Promises $5,000 Payments at North Carolina Campaign Rally

President Donald Trump held a campaign rally at the Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday to support Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and congressional nominees Laurie Buckhout and Jennifer Balkcom. Trump promised a $5,000 payment to every adult in the United States if Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate in the November 3 mid-term elections.

During the event, Trump and Whatley attacked Democratic Senate candidate and former Governor Roy Cooper, accusing him of maintaining soft-on-crime policies. Trump specifically alleged that Cooper conducted a "massive jail break" by releasing 3,500 inmates in 2021 to settle a COVID-19 safety lawsuit, claiming this included Decarlos Brown Jr. prior to the killing of Iryna Zarutska. A spokesperson for Cooper denied the claims, characterizing the attacks as desperate and noting that Trump released over 13,000 prisoners during the pandemic without court orders.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick used the rally to announce a new Sibelco silicon/quartz manufacturing facility in the state, while Trump highlighted a $1.5 billion Department of War investment in semiconductors. The event took place as early voting turnout in North Carolina reportedly outpaces 2022 levels. Despite Trump's optimism for "amazing results," polls show Cooper holds a commanding lead over Whatley for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who described the current state of his party as a "train wreck."