Still avoiding the Robinson scandal, Trump plans to return to North Carolina this week

Former President Donald Trump dodged addressing the scandal over porn-website comments tied to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson when he visited Wilmington on Saturday, but the Robinson drama isn’t stopping Trump from returning to the state Wednesday.

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff plans to visit Wilmington Wednesday.

Trump will visit Mint Hill the same day. A news release from the Trump campaign did not specify what Trump plans to speak on, but the body of the announcement largely focused on the economy and his “Made in America” vision, a consistent theme among Trump and his pick for vice president, Sen. JD Vance, when they visit.

The news release also attacked Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, for supporting foreign companies, including those in China.

“Unlike the weak leadership of the Harris-Biden administration, President Trump’s unwavering commitment to putting America first is exactly what this country needs to restore our economy and protect hardworking Americans,” the news release stated.

Mark Robinson

Trump’s visit comes just four days after he visited Wilmington, and two days after Vance comes to Charlotte .

It also comes on the heels of the majority of Robinson’s campaign staff quitting Sunday evening. Robinson’s campaign said it plans to announce new hires soon.

Trump has largely tied himself to Robinson, not just in this campaign season, but throughout Robinson’s short political career.

Robinson rose to prominence in 2018 after he went viral on social media for lecturing the Greensboro City Council on gun rights. By 2021, the former factory worker had been sworn in as North Carolina’s lieutenant governor.

And the Harris campaign is focusing on Trump’s relationship with Robinson, reminding voters that Trump has called him “better than Martin Luther King Jr.” and said things like he’s “a very good man.”

On Saturday, Vance said: “The allegations are pretty far out there, of course, but I know that allegations aren’t necessarily reality,” NBC reported.

“I don’t not believe him, I don’t believe him — I just think that you have to let these things sometimes play out in the court of public opinion,” Vance said.

Trump’s campaign had largely ignored North Carolina, a battleground state, through the crux of the campaign.

It was only after Harris took over President Joe Biden’s campaign that the Trump campaign began to refocus on the Tar Heel State and send frequent visitors.

Trump had largely led polls of North Carolina while Biden campaigned, despite Biden sending surrogates to North Carolina on a near weekly basis.

But after Harris announced her candidacy, she started to lead in polls and Trump redirected his focus on the state. The two are running neck-and-neck right now.

The Biden campaign has not yet disclosed when and where Emhoff plans to speak Wednesday, but the focus of his visit will be on Harris’ vision for the future and her plans to create an opportunity economy that gives everyone the chance to succeed with “hard work and ambition.”

Wednesday marks Trump’s sixth visit to the state since Harris launched her campaign.

Trump plans to speak at 1 p.m. at the Mosack Group on Allen Station Drive.

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