Trump To Visit Rocky Mount Friday As NC’s 1st District Draws Attention

By Carolina Journal Staff

The White House announced Monday that President Donald Trump will visit Rocky Mount on Friday. The subject of the president’s visit has not been disclosed.

Trump-endorsed Republican US Senate candidate Michael Whatley also promoted Trump’s visit on social media.

“I’m excited to welcome President @realDonaldTrump to Rocky Mount this Friday. Let’s give him the North Carolina welcome he deserves,” Whatley wrote on X/Twitter.

People could sign up for the event through Whatley’s “gowhatley.co” social media post.

Rocky Mount is located in North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Don Davis. The district is expected to be among the most closely watched races in the 2026 election cycle after state lawmakers redrew North Carolina’s congressional map, shifting boundaries in both the 1st and 3rd Districts in an effort to improve Republican electoral prospects.

A federal three-judge panel recently upheld the revised congressional map, rejecting legal challenges that sought to block its use in upcoming elections. The ruling cleared the way for the new district lines to remain in effect through at least the 2026 cycle.

Political dynamics in the 1st Congressional District have also shifted following Rocky Mount Mayor Sandy Roberson’s recent announcement that he had ended his bid for the 2026 Republican primary in the district. Roberson, a Republican, had previously signaled interest in challenging Davis before stepping away from the race.

“The newly drawn maps have changed the landscape of this race, and this is no longer the district I signed up to run in,” Roberson stated in the announcement last week. “My commitment has always been to serve the people I asked to serve- the great people of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. My responsibility is here at home. I will stay focused on leading our city through its current financial challenges and ensuring we emerge stronger, more stable, and positioned for long-term prosperity.”

The White House said the president will appear at the Rocky Mount Event Center at 9 p.m. on Friday. Additional details about the visit, including policy themes or invited participants, have not been released.