{"id":2569813,"date":"2026-02-13T16:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T21:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-boosts-michael-whatleys-senate-campaign-at-fort-bragg\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T16:36:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T21:36:41","slug":"trump-boosts-michael-whatleys-senate-campaign-at-fort-bragg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-boosts-michael-whatleys-senate-campaign-at-fort-bragg\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump boosts Michael Whatley&#8217;s Senate campaign at Fort Bragg"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-boosts-michael-whatleys-senate-campaign-at-fort-bragg%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2569813&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former President Donald Trump used a Fort Bragg visit to promote his endorsed North Carolina Senate candidate, Michael Whatley, during a ceremony honoring special forces involved in the January Maduro raid. he pulled Whatley onto the stage and framed the event as a rally for midterm politics, tying Whatley\u2019s bid to his own military-focused record. Trump touted actions his governance took,including claims that the Defense Department was renamed back to the War department,increased spending for military families,and operations against Iran and Maduro,while spotlighting the narcotics and security agenda he says is central to the race. he also criticized North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-admin-endorses-elimination-of-crack-and-powder-cocaine-sentencing-differences\/\" title=\"...en Admin Endorses Elimination Of Crack And Powder Cocaine Sentencing Differences\">criminal-justice reforms<\/a>, arguing they contributed to a 2025 murder and insisting Whatley would be tougher on crime.Whatley praised Trump as \u201cthe best president\u201d and accepted the opportunity to run for Senate against Cooper in November. The piece notes the North Carolina seat is a key toss-up in 2026, with Trump signaling he would be personally involved in DHS funding talks going forward. A video of trump\u2019s remarks at Fort Bragg is embedded in the report.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump pushes Michael Whatley&rsquo;s North Carolina Senate bid during Fort Bragg troop visit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2365906\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4457572\/trump-says-involved-dhs-funding-talks\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> used a Friday visit with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/two-detained-americans-released-from-venezuela-as-biden-seeks-oil-deal\/\" title=\"Two Detained Americans Released From Venezuela as ...en Seeks Oil Deal\">special forces members<\/a> at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-carolina\/\">North Carolina<\/a>&lsquo;s Fort Bragg to promote his hand-picked candidate for the state&rsquo;s U.S. Senate seat up this fall.<\/p>\n<p>Trump traveled to the military base to honor the special forces members who took part in January&rsquo;s raid to capture former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Billed as a celebration of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4453564\/trump-contracts-us-finland-icebreaker-davie-defense\/\">military<\/a>, including a closed-door visit with special forces operators, Trump did not shy away from midterm politics. The president even pulled former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, his endorsed candidate to succeed retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), onto the stage.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4454297\/democrats-affordability-fundraising-gop-midterms\/\">Democrats bet kitchen-table issues can blunt GOP money advantage<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4456840\/exclusive-dccc-ad-buy-asian-americans-lunar-new-year-2026\/\">Democrats launch Lunar New Year ad blitz to counter Trump inroads with Asian Americans<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4455055\/texas-senate-primary-cornyn-ken-paxton-gop-fears\/\">GOP leaders want Trump to endorse Cornyn in Texas Senate primary amid fears of costly fight<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;You saw what happened in the last election,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;We won everything, and this is a man that was in charge of this state. He did so well here, there was nobody else that I even considered to run the RNC.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Whatley, who is set to square off against former Gov. Roy Cooper in the general election come November, called Trump &ldquo;the best president.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am thrilled that he has asked me to run for Senate in North Carolina and is giving me an opportunity to represent you and to fight for you and every other base that we have in this great state, to protect our interests, to make sure that America and our allies are going to be protected,&rdquo; Whatley said.<\/p>\n<p>The North Carolina Senate seat is considered one of the key toss-ups of 2026. Whatley was courted by Trump to jump into the race after Tillis, 65, opted against seeking a second term. A centrist Republican, Tillis has broken with Trump on national security and the Justice Department&rsquo;s inquiry into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.<\/p>\n<p>Underscoring the importance that veterans and military families played in helping Trump carry the state three times, Friday&rsquo;s remarks focused heavily on military policies. Trump, in particular, noted his administration changed the name of the Defense Department back to the War Department, boosted federal spending for military families, bombed Iran&rsquo;s nuclear facilities, and conducted the Maduro operation in Venezuela.<\/p>\n<p>Trump also leaned into the 2025 killing of Iryna Zarutska, a flashpoint issue for Republicans in North Carolina. Zarutska, an immigrant from Ukraine, was murdered on a Charlotte-area light rail train, allegedly by a man with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prosecutions-star-witness-in-kyle-rittenhouse-trial-has-a-lengthy-criminal-record\/\" title=\"Prosecution\u2019s Star Witness in Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Has a Lengthy Criminal Record\u00a0\">lengthy criminal record<\/a>. Republicans pointed to a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >criminal justice reform bill signed<\/a> into law by Cooper as being responsible for the killing.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper &ldquo;allowed this man to get out [of jail] and to do that,&rdquo; the president declared. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not going to happen with Michael Whatley, that I can tell you.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>White House chief of staff Susie Wiles previously told reporters that the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4456567\/trump-says-not-aware-lutnick-2012-visit-epstein-island\/\">president<\/a> would take weekly trips in 2026 to sell his economic agenda and campaign for Republicans up and down the ticket.<\/p>\n<p>However, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4454169\/trump-administration-action-chinese-owned-company-wisconsin\/\">Trump<\/a> had deviated from that schedule by the first week of February. He stayed at the White House for five days straight last week before spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. He returned to the White House on Monday, where he remained until departing Friday afternoon for Fort Bragg.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4457572\/trump-says-involved-dhs-funding-talks\/\"><strong>TRUMP SAYS HE&rsquo;LL BE PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN DHS FUNDING TALKS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s North Carolina remarks can be seen in full below.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"vVorrMd6lz0\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"President Trump Delivers Remarks to Fort Bragg Military Families\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vVorrMd6lz0?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump backs Whatley for NC Senate at Fort Bragg visit<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2645,"featured_media":2569814,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26044686325415.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[40121,52240,3634],"class_list":["post-2569813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-michael-whatley","tag-senate-campaign","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26044686325415.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2569813"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569813\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2569817,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569813\/revisions\/2569817"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2569814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2569813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2569813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2569813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}