President Donald Trump is set to return to the Charlotte region Wednesday to campaign alongside Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley in Gastonia.
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Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at 7 p.m. at the Gastonia Municipal Airport, where he also rallied during his 2024 presidential campaign. Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and North Carolina Republican Party, lives in Gaston County and has been endorsed by Trump in his race against former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
The two are competing for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who is not seeking reelection.
Trump’s appearance also puts a renewed spotlight on his relationship with Whatley, whose political career has been closely tied to the president. Whatley led the Republican National Committee during Trump’s successful 2024 campaign and previously chaired the North Carolina Republican Party. He has emphasized Trump less frequently at some campaign stops in recent months, including during a July appearance in Gastonia where he mentioned the president only twice after repeatedly invoking him at his Senate campaign launch a year earlier.
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Whatley said in a post on X announcing the visit that Trump “needs an ally in the Senate” and called Gastonia his home.
Drivers should also expect disruptions around the airport Wednesday. Gastonia police say traffic restrictions and detours will begin in the morning around Union Road, Gaston Day School Road, Robinson Road and Bud Wilson Road, with more extensive closures expected later in the afternoon and evening. Police are urging people who do not need to be in the area to avoid it if possible.
Check back here for live updates of Trump’s visit Wednesday evening.
This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 8:42 AM with the headline “Live updates: Trump travels to Gastonia today for Whatley’s NC Senate campaign.”
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