GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley talks taxes, Iran during visit to Greensboro

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley stopped in Greensboro Thursday to tout the Trump administration's tax policies and pledge his support for continuing to lower taxes if elected.

Whatley, a former chairman of the Republican National Convention, appeared at the commercial lighting supplier Illuminating Technologies in a discussion that highlighted the overtime tax deduction passed last year as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.

He was joined by business leaders, workers, fire personnel and the leader of the N.C. Police Benevolent Association who spoke favorably of the overtime tax change and its impact on them or the people they represented or employed.

Whatley said there was a stark difference between him and his Democratic opponent, former Gov. Roy Cooper, when it comes to taxes.

"Roy Cooper has never met a tax he didn't want to hike and I have never met a tax I didn't want to cut," Whatley said.

Whatley commended the efforts Rep. Alan Branson, who was present at the event, and other legislative Republicans in the state for their tax policies.

"I think North Carolina has done a fantastic job of pointing the way that Washington needs to move," he said.

Whatley's visit comes the same week that data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a years-high annual inflation of 4.2%, with rising energy costs being a major contributor to the jump.

When Whatley was asked about inflation, he referred to the higher rates of inflation under President Joe Biden but said more work needs to be done to control costs. He said the government could work to reduce costs by a mix of tax, trade and regulatory policies aimed at helping employers and suppliers.

Whatley also addressed other topics as well, including the looming funding shortfall in the Social Security trust fund within the next six years.

"We need to make sure that people are going to be paid," Whatley said. "I mean, this is a contract that people have signed with the federal government. They have paid Social Security taxes over time and I would absolutely fight to make sure that everybody who has put into that system is absolutely going to be able to get their benefits for it."

While Whatley said the country would have to look toward long-range planning for Social Security and other programs, he did not offer any specifics.

On the Iran War, Whatley said he did not believe President Donald Trump wants to send troops to invade the country. He said that he "certainly will defer to him and the White House in terms of that conversation."

Whatley said that Iran could not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons under any circumstance.

"I strongly support the president taking steps to ensure that they don't develop those weapons," he said.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.