Former President Donald Trump returns to Charlotte next week to address the National Board of Trustees of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Patrick Yoes, the organization’s national chairman, announced Friday afternoon that Trump had accepted an invitation to address the board.
“President Trump has led our country admirably through some very difficult times,” Yoes said. “He provided our country with strong, effective leadership during his first term, and as he runs for a second term, we feel it is important that he joins us to discuss all of the issues facing our profession.”
Next week’s visit will be Trump’s fourth to North Carolina since President Joe Biden ended his re-election campaign on July 21.
Since then, Vice President Kamala Harris has become the Democratic presidential nominee, making the race in North Carolina more exciting compared to Trump, who has often been ahead in the polls. It has also transformed the state from what analysts considered a Republican state to one that is seen as an uncertain possibility.
On Thursday, during Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s first campaign visit to the Tar Heel State, Harris’ running mate said Trump can’t win back the White House if he doesn’t win North Carolina.
Trump had largely ignored the state before Harris ran. He didn’t have to pay attention to it; he led in almost every poll outside North Carolina.
He had campaigned a few times during the year, but that paled in comparison to the Biden-Harris campaign, which saw candidates and their surrogates travel almost weekly.
Trump has visited Charlotte, Asheville and Asheboro in a few weeks.
“We look forward to seeing President Trump again after meeting him at Mar-A-Lago earlier this year,” Yoes said. “He has been a great friend to the FOP, and the president and we look forward to hearing from him — and for him to hear from us — on the issues that matter to the rank-and-file officers the FOP represents.”
The organization has a board of seven members and one national trustee from each of the 46 state lodges.
Members of several Washington law enforcement agencies, including the Capitol Police, are also part of the group.
Trump is being sued in Washington for obstructing the certification of Biden as president by Congress on January 6, 2021. A riot broke out at the US Capitol after Trump called on his supporters to march on the Capitol. The riot left 174 police officers injured and five dead, four of whom committed suicide.
The FOP endorsed Trump in 2020, but has not yet offered him an endorsement in the 2024 race. A decision on who the FOP plans to endorse is expected at its Sept. 6 meetings.
The fall meeting is scheduled for September 4-8. It is not yet clear which day Trump will be present.
