Former President Donald Trump visited Ashville for the first time since Tropical Storm Helene.
Trump spoke at a press conference in Ashville on Monday, October 21 at noon. His remarks lasted about 30 minutes and covered the extent of the devastation in Western North Carolina, the economy, Starlink and early voting numbers.
The former president also repeated baseless claims that FEMA has no money to support Western North Carolina because it spends all its money on “illegal immigrants.”
“FEMA has done a very poor job,” Trump said Monday.
FEMA has provided more than $36 million in assistance to 37,000 approved applicants in Buncombe County, FEMA representative MaryAnn Tierney said Friday. This funding has helped repair homes, meet essential needs and continue the recovery.
Trump also commented on the “record numbers” of early voter turnout in North Carolina. PBS reported that 353,166 people cast ballots on Thursday, compared to 348,599 on the first day in October 2020.
When is Trump’s next rally?
After the press conference, the former president continues his campaign trail with a rally in Greenville, North Carolina and a rally in Concord, North Carolina. Both visits are scheduled for October 21.
According to the campaign’s website, his rally will take place at 3 p.m.
Who will win in the polls?
A USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll showed Trump and Harris nearly tied as they enter the final stretch of the campaign season. The poll reports Harris at 45% and Trump at 44%.
The poll of 1,000 likely voters, conducted by landline and mobile phone from October 14 to 18, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
North Carolina is a key battleground for both candidates. Trump won North Carolina in both 2016 and 2020.
At the news conference in Ashville, Trump continued his rhetoric that he expects to win the state again this Election Day.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Watch: ‘America shares your grief,’ Trump says during visit to Asheville
