Speaking to a crowd of Republicans from all corners of North Carolina on Friday, former President Donald Trump criticized the Biden administration and pledged to secure a third victory in the state — all via a phone call patched through by his son Eric Trump on stage.
“I want to express my gratitude to the people of North Carolina. Your support has been tremendous and unwavering,” Donald Trump said, greeted by cheers from hundreds in attendance.
The brief phone call set the stage for keynote addresses by RNC co-chair Lara Trump and her husband Eric Trump at the North Carolina GOP Convention in Greensboro. The couple highlighted significant changes within the national Republican Party under Lara Trump’s leadership and emphasized the importance of returning Trump to office.
“Our current situation in this country isn’t about Republicans versus Democrats or left versus right,” remarked Lara Trump, who hails from Wilmington, North Carolina, during their nearly 40-minute speech. “It’s about good versus evil.”
Lara Trump and Eric Trump (Via Jack Cummins/Shutterstock)
Lara and Eric Trump’s speech follows Trump’s keynote address to North Carolina Republicans at the 2023 convention, shortly after he faced his first criminal indictment related to mishandling classified federal documents from a grand jury.
Since Trump’s appearance last June, there have been developments at both the state and national levels of the party — including Lara Trump’s rapid rise within the Republican National Committee.
In March, Lara Trump assumed the role of RNC co-chair, becoming the party’s chief fundraiser and serving as second-in-command to Michael Whatley, the new RNC chair and former head of the North Carolina Republican Party, who is scheduled to speak at the NCGOP Convention on Saturday. Both Whatley and Lara Trump took on their leadership roles with a focus on revitalizing the party and ensuring Trump’s success in the upcoming election.
Following their appointments, the RNC underwent significant staff changes and experienced an uptick in fundraising efforts — crucial to financing Trump’s mounting legal expenses amid numerous civil and criminal legal battles.
