Donald Trump probably wasn’t expecting to win over North Carolinians by describing their home as one of the worst places in America, but that’s exactly what happened during his latest visit to the Tar Heel State. While campaigning in Gastonia on Wednesday, the president painted a grim picture of North Carolina, calling it “one of the most violent and one of the worst in the whole nation” — remarks that quickly drew an angry response from some locals.
As reported by WRAL, Trump made the comments during a campaign rally in Gastonia on Wednesday, where he appeared alongside Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley. The president spent much of his speech criticizing former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and current Gov. Josh Stein, particularly over crime, with Stein later dismissing Trump’s characterization of the state as “political nonsense.”
However, the available crime data paints a more complicated picture. PolitiFact noted that while North Carolina’s violent crime rate was above the national average in 2024, 18 states recorded higher rates. Violent crime in the state also fell 4.3% from the previous year, casting doubt on Trump’s characterization of North Carolina as one of the nation’s worst.
North Carolina Locals Furious Over Trump’s Comments
The reaction from North Carolinians in the thread was overwhelmingly critical, with several taking particular issue with Trump speaking so negatively about their home state. One Reddit user found some irony in the setting, writing, “I find it kind of funny he insulted the people who voted for him and showed up to support him.” Another longtime resident pushed back directly against Trump’s description: “Lived in NC for 29 years and his depiction of the state is the polar opposite of my experience. Beautiful place and great people.”
Others were considerably less diplomatic. One simply called Trump a “[expletive] clown,” while another summarized the speech as, “He basically said: ‘[Expletive] NC in particular.’” Someone else argued that the comments were part of a broader pattern, writing, “He’s been [expletive]-talking all of America since before he was elected the first time. All he’s ever talked about is how awful this country is.”
Not everyone in the discussion disagreed with Trump’s assessment, however. Amid the criticism, one North Carolinian offered a much more straightforward response: “I agree. It’s bad here.”
Ultimately, Trump’s description of North Carolina clearly struck a nerve with many of the locals discussing his comments online. While some agreed that the state has its problems, others felt his bleak portrayal bore little resemblance to the place they call home. Either way, telling a crowd of North Carolinians that their state is now “one of the worst” was always likely to get people talking.
