Photos: Trump sounds off in Charlotte
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Photo: Alexandria Sands/Axios
Former President Trump's rally on Wednesday — held in the same arena where the Charlotte Checkers play — had much of the same enthusiasm as an intense playoff hockey game.
- But on this night, the red bleachers represented MAGA, people grasped for Trump signs instead of tossed T-shirts and thunderous campaign videos blared from the jumbotron.
Why it matters: This marked Trump's first speech since President Biden dropped out of the 2024 race.
- The GOP nominee used this swing state as the stage to ramp up attacks on Vice President Kamala Harris and set the fiery tone for the rest of the election campaign.
Driving the news: In an indication of what to expect during the campaign, Trump called Harris "crazy" multiple times and nicknamed her "Lyin' Kamala."
Go deeper: Trump fires hard at Harris in first rally since Biden dropped out
Between the lines: In local interest, Trump shouted out North Carolina Republican candidates, including Congressman Dan Bishop, who is running for state attorney general, and House Speaker Tim Moore, candidate for Congress.
- However, he did not mention Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is in one of the nation's most closely-watched governor races.
- After the event, Robinson's campaign posted on X that Robinson was unable to attend the rally.
- "The Lt. Governor has proudly campaigned with President Trump already this election," the post reads, "and will be proud to campaign with him here again in the coming weeks and months."
The other side: Earlier in the day, in the Mecklenburg County Democratic Party office on Trade Street, the Harris for President campaign played defense with a counter-event. Speakers lifted Harris' qualifications, framed the blue party as a united one and painted Trump as a wanna-be dictator who would strip women's rights.
- Small business owner Manolo Betancur, a Colombian immigrant, said that Wednesday his bakery in diverse east Charlotte is just minutes away from "the center of the war on diversity and minorities," referring to the arena where Trump spoke.
