From behind a shielded podium, Trump took the stage at the Aero Center at the Wilmington International Airport around 2:30 p.m. and spoke for about an hour. The crowd of thousands chanted his name with a warm welcome and he accepted with promises of economic flourishment if elected.

People cheer as U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, Republican candidate for N.C. attorney general, speaks during a rally in support of former President and current Republican candidate for president Donald Trump in Wilmington, N.C. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Kaitlin McKeown [email protected]

Former President Donald Trump is speaking at a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, at around 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. It’s the first rally Trump has held in the state since North Carolina Republican gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson faced allegations Thursday that he posted offensive comments on a pornographic message board over a decade ago.