Trump Campaigns in North Carolina With NASCAR Legend Petty Before Midterms

President Donald Trump traveled to Greenville, North Carolina, on Tuesday as part of a final Republican push before the midterm elections. He arrived at Pitt-Greenville Airport aboard Air Force One and was joined on stage by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty.

Petty compared Trump to a race car driver and called him the best driver the country has ever had. He urged voters to select the best pit crew to support the president's agenda, framing the election as a team effort.

“I'm going to look at it. Alright? I'm going to use him as the driver. This is the best driver we've ever had.”

The event focused on Senate candidate Michael Whatley, who is running against former Democratic governor Roy Cooper for the seat held by Republican Senator Thom Tillis. Petty's appearance connected the rally to NASCAR while his speech remained political.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump and Vice President JD Vance announced a $25 million whistleblower incentive program. The White House said tips submitted through fraud.gov that lead to a fraud conviction or significant federal enforcement action could earn up to $30,000.

Meanwhile, AP data showed more than 13.3 million early votes had been cast across 44 states ahead of the midterms. The figure represents nearly a quarter of all early votes cast before the 2022 midterms and about 14 percent of early votes received for the 2024 presidential election.

Relations between the United States and Ukraine appeared to be at a new low. Moscow was strengthened by Trump's recent rejection of new Russia sanctions, while Kyiv faced disruptions in satellite support for its drones during the war.