Domestic and national security was the theme of Donald Trump’s campaign event in Asheboro Wednesday afternoon. 

Increasing security at the southern border, continuing support for law enforcement and criticizing the Biden administration’s foreign policy were the major cornerstones of addresses from Trump and his running mate, JD Vance. 

“It’s a great day to be from Asheboro and Randolph County, and we’re excited,” state Sen. David W. Craven Jr., R-Randolph, said before a litany of speakers took the stage. “We got a beautiful 75-degree day queued up and [we’re] just going to have a great time out here with 45 and hopefully 47.”

Prior to Trump’s 90-minute speech, former military leaders Keith Kellogg and Edward Reeder Jr. and Randolph County Sheriff Gregory Seabolt expressed their support for the Republican presidential candidate. 

“The American people understand that when the world is at peace, when America is respected, that Americans are more safe,” U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, R-NC, said in an interview before his speech. “It’s in our interest to not have wars all over the world.”

Hudson said national security is of paramount importance to North Carolina, including his constituents in and around Fort Liberty, formerly known as Fort Bragg. 
About 20 North Carolina sheriffs joined Trump on stage to begin his address, along with Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson. Trump also recognized North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, and Rep. Neal Jackson, R-Moore, for their support.

Trump and Vance keyed in on the September 2021 Biden-Harris administration decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. Trump called the decision “humiliating” and a “catastrophe,” adding that he also had plans to withdraw troops, but would have done so with dignity. 

Trump said America was respected under his leadership, but the country lost that status under Biden and would only be worsened by Harris, whom he called “Comrade Kamala” numerous times during the event. 

He also said if he had been president over the last four years, “Putin would never have gone into Ukraine; Israel would never have been attacked.” 

Trump said the admittance of transgender soldiers into the Army and the “purging” of 8,000 Armed Forces members for refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in the last four years have weakened military strength. 

“My attitude kept us out of wars,” he said. “All over the world, our adversaries knew that America was not to be trifled with when I was your commander-in-chief.” he later added. 

“The world is on fire and Kamala and Biden have marched us to the brink of World War III. …” Trump said. “This November, Americans are going to tell Kamala Harris that we’ve had enough; we can’t take it anymore. You’re doing a terrible job. …. You’re fired; get out of here.”

Another topic Trump addressed was the revised report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that indicated 818,000 fewer jobs were added in the last 12 months than initially reported. Trump blamed the error on the Biden administration. 

Trump said his name has been mentioned over 200 times by speakers at the Democratic National Convention, while the economy and the border have barely been mentioned. 

“Our great border czar doesn’t talk about the border, but they mention me more than any other category,” Trump said. “I’m now a category.”

The Trump campaign stop came on the heels of a visit from Kamala Harris on Friday. Her speech primarily zeroed in on economic policy, with a focus on reducing costs to allow Americans of all backgrounds and opportunity levels to succeed.

For questions or comments, or to pass along story ideas, please write to Matthew Sasser at [email protected] or contact the NC Insider at [email protected] or @StateAffairsNC 

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