Trump says he is worried about Whatley's North Carolina Senate race as polls favour Cooper
President Trump said he is worried about Michael Whatley's Senate campaign in North Carolina, as a Republican super PAC paused advertising there and polls showed Democrat Roy Cooper ahead.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1President Donald Trump said on Friday 2 October that he is worried about Michael Whatley's campaign for US Senate in North Carolina, adding "I hope he wins." NewsweekN ““I am worried about him,” Trump told reporters Friday as he departed for a campaign rally in Alabama. “I hope he wins.”” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Trump also praised Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman, as "a great man" who "would be a great senator." NewsweekN “Trump also praised Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), calling him “a great man”” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1The comments came the same day the Senate Leadership Fund, a Republican-aligned super PAC, said it would pause its remaining advertising in North Carolina and redirect resources to other Senate races; it had already spent more than $30 million in the state and had earlier pledged as much as $71 million. NewsweekN “the Senate Leadership Fund, a major Republican-aligned super PAC, announced it would pause its remaining advertising spending in North Carolina and redirect resources to other Senate races. The group had already spent more than $30 million in the state.”“The Senate Leadership Fund had previously pledged as much as $71 million toward the North Carolina race.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Whatley faces Democratic former Governor Roy Cooper for the seat being vacated by Republican Senator Thom Tillis; the election is on 3 November. NewsweekN “Whatley is running against Cooper for the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Senator Thom Tillis.”“North Carolina voters will choose their next U.S. senator on November 3.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Recent polls show Cooper ahead: AARP (17-20 September) had him at 53% to 42%, High Point University 50% to 42%, InsiderAdvantage 48.4% to 42.5%, Quantus Insights 48.4% to 43.3%, and the Carolina Journal 49% to 34%. Newsweek notes the surveys use different methods, and the AARP poll found Whatley leading 51% to 45% among voters aged 50 and over. NewsweekN “The AARP poll, published last week, found Cooper receiving 53 percent support compared with 42 percent for Whatley.”“Whatley led Cooper 51 percent to 45 percent among voters age 50 and older.”“A Carolina Journal poll released September 17 found Cooper with a larger lead, 49 percent to 34 percent” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Whatley has kept campaigning and said on 25 September in Pittsboro that "We will get the support we need to win this race." Newsweek says the pause does not mean Republican groups have withdrawn all support. NewsweekN ““We will get the support we need to win this race.””“The move does not mean Whatley has ended his campaign or that Republican groups have withdrawn all support.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Whatley, who resigned as RNC chairman to run, is a first-time candidate and Trump's endorsed pick; Trump backed him for RNC chair in 2024 and campaigned with him at a September rally in Gastonia. NewsweekN “Whatley is now running for office for the first time.”“He backed Whatley for chairman of the RNC in 2024, and Whatley is now Trump's endorsed candidate” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Cooper served as governor from 2017 to 2025 and as attorney general for four terms. His campaign focuses on lowering costs, and he opposes tariffs and has criticised the Iran war and Whatley's support for it. Hindustan TimesN “He served as North Carolina’s governor from 2017 to 2025 after defeating Republican Governor Pat McCrory in 2016.”“criticised his Republican Senate opponent, Michael Whatley for continuing to support the war” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Democrats need four seats to take control of the Senate, which makes North Carolina one of the most closely watched races of 2026. Democrats have not won a Senate race there since 2008, and Trump carried the state narrowly in 2024. NewsweekN “Democrats are seeking to gain the four Senate seats they would need to take control of the chamber”“Democrats have not won a Senate election there since 2008” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Newsweek leads with Trump's remark, the super PAC pause and the polls; Hindustan Times profiles Cooper's career and positions as the Democratic opponent.
- Emphasis
- Polling numbers, Republican spending decisions, and Cooper's record on costs, tariffs, abortion and immigration.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Hindustan Times does not mention Trump's concern or the ad pause; Newsweek did not get comment from Whatley or Cooper.
- Charged language
- “Handpicked GOP Nominee”
- For example
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“Trump Worried Over Handpicked GOP Nominee in North Carolina—What Polls Show” — Newsweek
“A key Democratic figure in North Carolina politics, Roy Cooper is set to compete against Republican Michael Whatley.” — Hindustan Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Michael Whatley is the Republican and Roy Cooper the Democratic candidate for North Carolina's open US Senate seat in 2026.
Donald Trump person
Says he is worried about Whatley but hopes he wins, and praises him as a great leader.
““I am worried about him,” Trump told reporters Friday” — Newsweek
Michael Whatley person
Says he expects the support needed to win and is continuing to campaign.
““We are going to continue to get support,” Whatley said at a September 25 event in Pittsboro.” — Newsweek
Roy Cooper person
Campaigns on lowering costs and opposes tariffs and the Iran war, criticising Whatley's support for the war.
“Cooper said there was “no strategy, no exit plan and no end in sight”” — Hindustan Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Trump Worried Over Handpicked GOP Nominee in North Carolina—What Polls Show
Neutral Poll-heavy news report placing Trump's remark alongside the super PAC pause and noting Cooper's lead.
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Neutral Explainer profile of Cooper's career, policies and controversies, with little on the race's current state.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 3 Oct 01:53 First NewsweekN Trump Worried Over Handpicked GOP Nominee in North Carolina—What Polls Show
- 6 Oct 10:53 +81h Hindustan TimesN Who is Roy Cooper? Career, policies, controversies and key views of former North Carolina governor running for Senate
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.