Trump Critiques Roy Cooper and Endorses Michael Whatley at Fort Bragg

During a speech at Fort Bragg on February 13, 2026, President Donald Trump criticized former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, who is running for Senate, while endorsing Republican candidate Michael Whatley. Trump’s remarks included a reference to a violent incident involving a Ukrainian girl, which he attributed to Cooper's policies. He stated, “We want to keep this area safe, and we can’t do that without the leaders. And your ex-governor is not one of them,” emphasizing his support for Whatley, who he claimed would ensure safety.

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• Donald Trump: Former President of the United States, currently campaigning for Republican candidates.

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• Roy Cooper: Former Governor of North Carolina and Democratic Senate candidate, criticized by Trump during the speech.

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• Michael Whatley: Republican candidate for Senate in North Carolina, endorsed by Trump.

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• Iryna Zarutska: Ukrainian girl whose tragic death was referenced by Trump in his speech.

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Trump's speech also included announcements regarding military investments, stating that the U.S. would acquire 30 Abrams tanks, 48 helicopters, and 86 armored vehicles, reinforcing his administration's commitment to military strength. He criticized the Biden administration's military policies and claimed that under his leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion programs would be eliminated from the military. Trump asserted, “We got your name back from the radical left,” referring to the renaming of Fort Bragg, which had been changed to Fort Liberty by Congressional mandate.

Fayetteville Observer

Critics of Trump’s remarks have pointed out that his aggressive rhetoric may alienate moderate voters. Cooper's supporters argue that Trump's comments misrepresent Cooper's record and distract from substantive issues facing North Carolina. Additionally, some military personnel reportedly reacted with subdued applause during Trump's speech, indicating a lack of enthusiasm for his political messaging.

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While Trump claimed that the military would receive significant funding for equipment and housing improvements, specific details about the funding allocations and their approval status were not provided. Furthermore, there is no consensus on the public's reaction to Trump's speech, with varying reports on the level of engagement from the audience.

Fayetteville Observer

• “We want to keep this area safe, and we can’t do that without the leaders. And your ex-governor is not one of them. Would be a disaster if he got in one of the things that I just mentioned and saw, you saw the monster that killed an innocent young Ukrainian girl a couple of months ago, slitting her throat from behind,” — Donald Trump

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• “That’s not going to happen with Michael Whatley, that I can tell you,” — Donald Trump

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• “We got your name back from the radical left,” — Donald Trump

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As early voting for the North Carolina primaries is underway, the political landscape will continue to evolve, with Trump’s endorsement of Whatley likely influencing voter sentiment. The implications of Trump's military announcements and his ongoing criticism of the Biden administration will also be closely monitored as the election approaches.

Fayetteville Observer