President Trump Gaggles with Press Upon Departure from the White House, Oct. 2, 2026

According to The Hill, Trump went on to say that Whatley "was a great leader for the whole Republican Party when I won, and he'd be a great senator."[1]The Associated Press reports that Trump's remarks came as Senate Republicans' top campaign spending organization is pulling back in North Carolina and pouring money into Kansas[2]. The AP says the Senate Leadership Fund's decision was disclosed Friday by four people with direct knowledge of the situation[2]. According to the AP, the group had planned to spend $18 million in North Carolina over the next month, according to AdImpact, and has already spent about $32 million there.[3] The Hill reports that the PAC canceled $6.5 million ad reservations in North Carolina on Friday.[4]The Hill reports that a Catawba College and YouGov poll released this week showed Cooper with a 10-point lead over Whatley, and Cook Political Report rates the race as "lean Democrat."[4]Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on social media that the super PAC's move "says all you need to know about which direction the Senate Majority is headed"[5], according to a Tribune report.Whatley spokesman DJ Griffin told NBC News in a statement, "We feel confident we have the resources to highlight Career Politician Roy Cooper's 40 Years of Failures and win in November."[6]