At 7:27 PM, Donald Trump emerged from behind makeshift blue curtains at the Gastonia Municipal Airport, wearing a dark suit and a bright red “USA” cap. He was there to campaign for Michael Whatley, but he quickly made the night about himself. He announced how impressed he was with his own intelligence. Then he asked North Carolinians to pretend he was on the ballot. In a sense, he is. The most recent Elon University poll cited in my essay puts Whatley 11 points behind Roy Cooper, with fewer than half of registered voters even recognizing Trump’s handpicked candidate. Whatley’s campaign has also faced questions about an event where a registered sex offender led the opening prayer; it says it did not organize the event, invite the pastor, or know his history. This is the candidate Trump wants North Carolina to trust.
The pitch was “Make America Safe Again,” but I heard a president exploiting fear while dismissing what Americans are being asked to endure. He used the horrific murder of Iryna Zarutska to attack Roy Cooper, repeating a claim about her accused killer’s release that I challenge in today’s essay. She deserved better than to become material for his campaign. He called gas prices from his war in Iran “a very inexpensive price to pay” and said even a greater cost would be worth it. He threatened trade with European nations and bragged about seizing Venezuelan oil. Meanwhile, Whatley has acknowledged substantial investments in oil and gas companies while supporting the war. I watched all of this from a hospital room beside a very close family member, reminded how quickly the noise falls away when someone you love is sick. A president has the power to invest in healthcare, education, and the safety nets that help people through those moments. Instead, we keep getting division.
I am angry about the years this has taken from us, the moments we cannot get back, and the burden of staying alert while trying to live our lives. In a year and a half of writing, I have not had a single night when there was nothing terrible to address. I am angry at the people enabling him, including an attorney general appearing at a partisan campaign rally, and at those who recognize the cruelty but keep cheering. But tonight my most personal request is simple: take care of each other. Look out for the people already carrying more than they can hold, worried about gas, groceries, and making it through the next day. We are 48 days from the midterms. I saw embarrassment and concern alongside the usual cheering at this rally, and I believe we have an opportunity to turn this around. We need to support one another while building a country where everyone has a fair chance to live with dignity.
See the full story in the video.
We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms.
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I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late).
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Heather
This video is based on my written post, available HERE, and based on the events of 9-16-2026.
This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment.
Sources:
WATCH LIVE: Trump campaigns for GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley in North Carolina: YouTube Video
https://politifact.com/article/2026/feb/09/did-cooper-prison-settlement-release-suspect-in-fa/
