Overview
- White House officials say Trump will appear with Michael Whatley at the Rocky Mount Events Center on Friday as part of his 2026 messaging tour on affordability.
- Timing details vary across notices, with officials telling the Washington Examiner the event is at 6 p.m., WRAL citing doors opening at 6 p.m., and Carolina Journal listing 9 p.m.
- Whatley promoted the visit on X and shared an RSVP link directing supporters to sign up through gowhatley.co.
- The GOP primary to replace retiring Sen. Thom Tillis features Whatley, Don Brown, and Elizabeth Temple, with candidate filing open through Dec. 19 and Democrat Roy Cooper expected in the general.
- Rocky Mount sits in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, a closely watched battleground after a redrawn map was upheld by a federal three-judge panel.