President Donald Trump on Wednesday ripped into former North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and his “band of communists” for crime in the state, branding his chosen candidate in the Tarheel State Senate race, Michael Whatley, as tough on crime.
Trump was in Charlotte stumping for Whatley when he leaned into a familiar Republican line of attack, highlighting Cooper’s crime record while serving as governor.
“Roy Cooper and his band of communists want to take everything you have and give it to people who would rob your house, invade your border, just shoot you dead,” Trump said. “Then they go to sleep at night, wake up in the morning, and not even remember that they killed you. They couldn’t care less. They’re animals. They’re killers.”
During his tenure, Cooper reached a legal settlement with the civil rights groups who alleged the state was not doing enough to protect inmates from COVID-19. In February 2021, Cooper signed the agreement that led to the early release of over 3,000 criminals.
Speaking at the rally, Trump claimed the prisoners released under Cooper’s settlement included murderers. Inmates serving murder convictions were not eligible for early release, though state officials have conceded that the settlement was not confined to nonviolent offenders and some released individuals had been convicted of violent crime.
“You can either vote for Roy Cooper to set loose criminals who rape and murder your children and your population, or you can vote for Michael Whatley to protect and defend your children and your population,” Trump said.
Additionally, the president noted several instances of violent crime in which he said Cooper was responsible for the offender’s release.
Trump cited the killing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian woman who moved to Charlotte in 2022 after Russia invaded her home country, and claimed Zarutska’s alleged killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., was released early from prison. Republicans have argued Brown was released due to the COVID-19 settlement, but Brown was released before the lawsuit was settled. Cooper reportedly included prisoners released shortly before the lawsuit was settled, including Brown.
“The animal who murdered Iryna Zarutska should never have been on your streets,” Trump said. “After 14 arrests, he should have been locked up for many, many years. But Roy Cooper released him. He said, ‘No, let’s release him.’ Under Cooper and the Democrats’ no cash bail policy, that monster and countless others were set loose to prey on the people of North Carolina.”
Trump painted a clear contrast between Cooper and Whatley, whom he characterized as a champion of his policies.
“Roy Cooper wants migrant criminals like these set loose on North Carolina streets with sanctuary city policies,” he said. “Michael Whatley wants them executed, arrested, or deported.”
The president also dedicated a large portion of his speech to criticizing Cooper’s response to Hurricane Helene in 2024, which left much of western North Carolina devastated. Trump alleged Cooper did little to help the families struggling from the wreckage and said he stepped in to help after Whatley reached out.
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“Remember Helene, that name, such a nice name, such a vicious, violent storm. But he was the No. 1 advocate, and I delivered,” Trump said.
Whatley and Cooper are seeking to succeed Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who is retiring at the end of his term. The race is rated as “leans Democrat” by the Cook Political Report, and Cooper has maintained a lead over Whatley in several polls.