Trump continues midterm campaign blitz in North Carolina
Welcome to the US politics live blog! I’m Shrai Popat and I’ll be bringing you the latest lines from Washington and beyond.
We start today with Donald Trump’s upcoming trip to Greenville, North Carolina – where he’ll support Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for US Senate, who’s facing a tough challenge against Roy Cooper, the former Democratic governor of the state who has consistently led Whatley in the polls for this open seat.
North Carolina is the president’s second stop in a seven-day campaign tour across several states that he won in 2024. It’s all about rallying support for Republican candidates on the ballot as we approach the midterms – now just two weeks away.
However, earlier this month, the Senate’s leading GOP Super Pac announced it pulled a $71m ad spend in North Carolina to direct more funds into the Kansas race – indicating that Republicans’ chances of maintaining their hold on the Tar Heel state might be fading.
On Monday, Trump held a rally in Kansas – as the Senate race there tightens up.
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Updated at 08.14 EDT
Key events
Just a reminder that my colleagues are covering recent news from France, where riots led to thousands being arrested over the weekend and curfews being imposed.
Donald Trump has made unfounded claims that these riots – which began as protests against France’s failing education system – stem from mass migration.
The president repeated these falsehoods despite French authorities not indicating that immigrants are involved in causing the riots. That didn’t stop Trump from starting his Kansas rally by showing a Fox News report before he came on stage, displaying looting and destruction after chaos erupted in France.
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Also today, Trump will begin his day in Washington.
He and Vice President JD Vance will make an announcement in the Oval Office at 1.30pm ET before Trump heads back out on his campaign trail.
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Trump announces relief for farmers impacted by soaring diesel prices, as Iran war continues and midterms loom
Donald Trump has announced $8bn worth of economic aid for farmers affected by rising diesel prices, as polling shows Republicans facing possible losses in the midterms.
This announcement came just 15 days before an election overshadowed by frustration over increasing fuel costs caused by ongoing conflict involving Iran.
Farmers in Kansas, an agricultural stronghold, have been significantly impacted by repercussions from this conflict. A gallon of diesel is nearing $6-almost double what it cost last year at this time.
In August, Trump frustrated cattle ranchers with plans to cut import tariffs to lower beef prices while enforcing strict immigration raids that caused some agricultural workers to stay home.
Trump’s announcement took place during a rally in Kansas on Monday night while Republicans faced growing anger over living costs and ongoing issues related to Iran. As my colleague David Smith noted last night: “The fact that Donald Trump was here at all said more about a looming electoral disaster facing his Republican party next month than anything contained in his dark and discursive 98-minute stump speech.”
Trump appeared aware of potential risks if Democrats gain ground in Kansas, where no Democrat has won a US Senate seat since 1932. While campaigning for first-term senator Roger Marshall, he told about 5,000 supporters gathered outside Wichita: “You’re really sort of – I hate to say it – you’re sort of tending toward the purple,” acknowledging that Kansas currently has a Democratic governor named Laura Kelly. “That’s why I have to be sure that we get this guy.”
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Trump continues midterm campaign blitz in North Carolina
Welcome to th e US politics live blog! I’m Shrai Popat and I’ll b e bringing you th e latest lines f rom Washington and b eyond. p >We start t oday with D onald Trump’s upcoming trip t o Greenville , N orth Car olina – where he’ll support M ichael W hatley , th e R epublican nominee f or US Senate , who’s facing a tough challenge against R oy C ooper , th e form er D emocratic governor o f th e state who h as consistently led W hatley i n th e polls f or this open seat. p >N orth Car olina is th e president’s second stop i n a seven-day campai gn tour across sev eral states that h e won i n 2024. It’s all abou t rallying support f or R epublican candidates o n th e ballot as w e approach th e midterms – now just two weeks away. p >H owever , earli er this month , th e Senate’s leading GOP Super Pac announced it pulled a $71m ad spend i n N orth Car olina t o direct more funds i nto th e K ansas race – indicating that R epublicans’ chances o f maintaining their hold on th e Tar H eel state might b e fading. p >O n M onday , T rump held a ra lly i n K ansas – as th e Senate race there tightens u p.
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Updated atUpdated at 08.14 EDT
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