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On Friday, Vice President JD Vance made a strategic visit to a crucial battleground state ahead of the midterm elections, advocating for President Trump’s agenda on affordability as Republicans aim to retain their congressional majority.
Addressing an enthusiastic crowd in Rocky Mount, NC, Vance stated, “Joe Biden was the president responsible for the affordability crisis, whereas Donald J. Trump has increased the wealth of the American public by $1,300.”
Surveys consistently reveal that voters prioritize the cost of living as a significant concern as they approach the November 3 elections. In response, Vance focused much of his speech on alleviating his audience’s financial worries.
“Under President Trump’s leadership for a year and a month, the average American family, which had lost $3,200 during Biden’s presidency, has now gained approximately $1,300,” Vance explained, highlighting the tax credits promoted by the current administration.
Vance has emerged as the administration’s leading spokesperson in promoting the economic achievements of the Trump presidency.
“We have seen new home purchaes rise to their highest level in five years, since the last time Donald Trump was president,” Vance said. “We have seen the cost of rents drop for six months in a row. We have seen the average tax refund that will come to the people of North Carolina — about $3,700 per family — and we have interest rates the lowest they have been since the last time Donald Trump was president.”
Despite the administration’s rosy outlook, a Fox News poll released earlier this month found only 30% view the economy positively, while a majority of voters remain worried about the costs of groceries, utilities, healthcare, housing, and gas.
The Trump administration is trying to ease fears, in part by describing high prices at the pump as a temporary side effect of the war with Iran.
“My friends, the president is impatient,” Vance told his audience. “He’s the most impatient person I have ever met. In fact, he constantly is pressing on the gas. He wants us to do more. I stand here proud to say after the first year, we are rebuilding the American dream.”
North Carolina’s Senate race is one of the most competitive of this cycle, with both parties vying to win the seat held by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.
Vance arrived in the state 10 days after the Democratic and Republican primary elections, won by former Gov. Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, respectively.
“Roy Cooper is one of these people who clearly cares way more for foreign countries than he does the United States of America,” Vance said. “You see the passion in his voice when he talks about protecting illegal aliens. You’ll never hear that passion when he’s talking about the people in this room.”
The vice president also targeted Democratic Rep. Don Davis, who is seeking re-election in a competitive House district that is considered one of the GOP’s best pickup opportunities.
“Don Davis voted against cutting taxes on those making $100,000 a year and voted against going to war against violent criminals,” the VP said. “Don Davis is not a man that stands for the people of this state or district. He does exactly what Nancy Pelosi tells him to do, and in November, we are going to send him home and get him out of Washington, DC.”
Laurie Buckhout, a military veteran, won the Republican primary March 3, setting up a rematch with Davis, who beat her by 1.5 percentage points in 2024.