Trump's Crime Claim

Trump blamed North Carolina's Democratic governor for surging crime, calling the state 'one of the most violent and one of the worst in the nation.'

“Independent fact-checkers have called these attacks false, Michael Whatley is getting desperate and it’s shameful that he’s using heinous crimes to try to deceive North Carolinians”

Whatley Campaign Response

Whatley's campaign spokesperson accused Trump of using violent crime to deceive voters and highlighted concerns about appointing convicted sex offenders.

“While Roy spent his career putting rapists and violent criminals behind bars and signing tough on crime laws as governor, Michael Whatley has continued to knowingly appoint, campaign with and elevate convicted child sex predators who spent time in prison”

FBI Crime Data

North Carolina recorded 24,686 aggravated assaults from September 2025 to September 2026, but the state's violent crime rate is 9.31 per 100,000 people, below the national average of 4.42.

National Crime Trend

The U.S. violent crime rate dropped 9 percent from June 2025 to May 2026, with murder rates falling 18.7 percent and robbery rates down 19.4 percent.

State Comparison

North Carolina ranked seventh in aggravated assault counts among states, but states like Florida and Michigan have higher rates per capita.

Trump's Rally Focus

Trump highlighted the death of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian woman killed in North Carolina, and blamed Democratic governor Roy Cooper for the state's crime issues.

Whatley Campaign Clarification

Whatley's campaign denied involvement with Pastor Daimon L. King, a registered sex offender, who led a prayer at a campaign event.

“The event was NOT planned nor organized by the Whatley campaign nor did the campaign invite any of the guests”

Crime Rate Context

North Carolina's violent crime rate is 9.31 per 100,000 people, significantly lower than the national average of 4.42, despite higher absolute numbers.