WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump addressed a range of topics, from Iranian threats to economic concerns, while campaigning in North Carolina on Wednesday, as the 2024 presidential race approaches its climax.

“This is a significant state, very important,” Trump stated during his address in Mint Hill, close to Charlotte.

North Carolina has traditionally been viewed as a crucial swing state; it has consistently voted Republican in presidential elections since 2008. However, some analysts believe the GOP nominee may face challenges in the state due to controversies surrounding gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson.

Despite the criticism facing Robinson, who has been accused of making distressing comments based on a CNN report, Trump chose not to address these issues directly. Robinson has maintained his candidacy in what is expected to be a highly competitive governor’s race.

Instead, Trump focused on promoting his economic strategies while criticizing the proposals of his competitor, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Opening his 67-minute speech, Trump highlighted intelligence reports indicating that Iran is targeting him. He implied that Iran might be connected to two recent attempts on his life, despite official statements confirming no evidence linking them to Iran.

“There have been two assassination attempts on me, that we know of, and they might involve Iran,” Trump stated.

Here are the top three insights from Trump’s speech on Wednesday.

Condemning Iranian Threats

During his speech in North Carolina, Trump declared that the U.S. should issue warnings to Iran that any harm to presidential candidates would lead to severe consequences for their cities.

“I would inform Iran that if they do anything to harm our candidates, we will destroy their largest cities and their entire country,” Trump asserted. “You can’t threaten us like that, and with proper leadership, there wouldn’t be these threats.”

Trump visited North Carolina following a campaign announcement about intelligence officials briefing him on “specific threats from Iran to assassinate him in an attempt to create unrest in the United States.”

U.S. authorities have accused Iran of cyberattacks against Trump, yet have found no connections between Iran and the two assassination attempts.

In his remarks about Iran, Trump referred to a July 13 incident where a bullet narrowly missed him, injuring his ear. Recently, an individual was arrested for attempted assassination after carrying a rifle onto Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Following his speech, Trump announced plans to return to Butler for a rally on October 5.

U.S. officials and Trump’s team believe Iran may retaliate against him for the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani during Trump’s presidency.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized on NBC this week that “we have been closely monitoring ongoing threats from Iran against several senior officials, including former President Trump, as well as individuals serving in the current administration. It is a serious concern for us.”

Engaging North Carolina Voters

This was Trump’s second rally in North Carolina within four days, following reports about Robinson’s controversial online activity.

CNN’s report accused Robinson of engaging with a pornographic website from 2008 to 2012, and posting various inappropriate, racist, and transphobic remarks.

Among the allegations, Robinson reportedly referred to himself as a Black Nazi and expressed support for some form of slavery in the U.S., advocating for Adolf Hitler over President Obama.

Robinson denied these accusations and did not attend Trump’s recent rallies in the state.

Similar to an earlier rally in Wilmington, Trump highlighted several prominent North Carolina Republicans but did not mention Robinson, the GOP gubernatorial candidate.

The North Carolina governor’s race is among the key contests Republicans hope to win in November. However, recent polls show Democratic nominee Josh Stein leading Robinson by as much as 10 points.

Since the backlash against Robinson intensified, the Harris campaign has increased voter mobilization efforts in North Carolina. Polls suggest a competitive race for the presidential election in a state that Trump won in both 2016 and 2020, which he likely needs to secure for a chance at a comeback in the election.

Emphasizing Economic Issues

Trump made economics a central theme during his speech, mirroring his focus from a recent event in Savannah, Georgia.

The Republican nominee advocated for reducing taxes and regulatory barriers while encouraging companies to repatriate jobs to the U.S. He also defended proposals for increasing tariffs on companies that relocate jobs overseas.

For weeks, Trump has prioritized economic policies in his campaign, although he provided limited specifics on how he intends to fulfill these commitments during his address on Wednesday.

Trump criticized Harris regarding her economic policy, as well as issues related to inflation, illegal immigration, Ukraine, and the Middle East—all of which he claims affect North Carolina. He placed particular emphasis on the furniture manufacturing sector, a historically significant part of the state’s economy that has faced significant changes over the years.

“This November,” he stated, “the residents of North Carolina will let her know that we’ve had enough.”