NC Gov. Cooper, while voting for Harris, says Trump has ‘darker and darker threats’
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, cast his ballot early on Tuesday for Kamala Harris for president, telling reporters after that Donald Trump will “turn our democracy upside down.”
“We know that this election is more than just about our bank accounts. Women’s reproductive freedom is on the line, too, the freedom to make decisions about your own body. Donald Trump took that freedom away, and he’s ready to do more,” Cooper told reporters at John Chavis Memorial Park in Southeast Raleigh.
Cooper also made his pitch to undecided voters, saying that “there are things that they don’t like about both candidates. If you aren’t sure who to vote for, or maybe you’re even wondering whether you’ll vote at all, consider this: The darker and darker threats Donald Trump is making on the campaign trail are shocking and they are real.”
The New York Times reported that experts on democracy are alarmed at Trump’s repeated reference to “the enemy within” in speeches and interviews, referring to using military force on liberal activists and politicians.
Cooper said if Trump wins, his presidency would be “focused on himself and his millionaire friends” and “seeking revenge.”
Cooper also referred to those who were close to Trump when he was president and who have since spoken out against Trump, like former Marine general and Trump chief of staff John Kelly. Kelly said Trump talked about the loyalty of Adolf Hitler’s generals and fits “into the general definition of fascist,” CNN reported.
“Just listen to the ultra-conservative people who worked for him, closely with him every single day when he was president— his chief of staff, his attorney general, his military general, his vice president. They say he should not be president again, he puts himself above the Constitution. He is dangerous to our country,” Cooper told reporters on Tuesday.
“This time, this time, Donald Trump will not make the same mistake of hiring people who put the Constitution first. He will hire people this time who are solely devoted to him and who will do anything he wants them to do. They will help him turn our democracy upside down,” Cooper said.
Cooper urged people to vote for Harris even if they don’t agree with her on everything.
“We need to vote like our futures and our freedoms depend on it because they do now,” he said.
NCGOP says Trump is ‘new era of American greatness’
A spokesperson for the N.C. Republican Party disagreed with Cooper’s criticisms.
“In the desperate final days of the Harris campaign, it comes as no surprise Gov. Cooper is lashing out at the positive, forward-looking vision of President Trump and Sen. Vance with debunked and false comments made by a disgruntled former employee,” said Matt Mercer, spokesperson for the NCGOP.
“The American people want their champion — President Trump — back in the White House because we are not better off than we were four years ago. From rebuilding the economy to restoring the Southern border to reclaiming our standing in the world, President Trump and Republicans will lead a new era of American greatness and win on Nov. 5,” Mercer told The News & Observer.
Cooper’s future
This is the first time in decades that Cooper hasn’t been a candidate on the ballot, as he is finishing his second term as governor and served as attorney general and in the General Assembly before that.
Cooper was on the list of potential running mates for Harris this past summer, and could end up in a Cabinet position if she wins. Or, he may decide to run for U.S. Senate in 2026. As usual, he deferred when asked about his plans.
“I’m going to run through the tape and work as hard as I can serving as governor of this state until my term ends. Then I’ll make a decision on on what to do. I know when Kamala Harris does win, I’m excited about the future of our country,” Cooper said.
Harris is holding a campaign rally in Raleigh on Wednesday. Trump will be in nearby Rocky Mount, also on Wednesday, as the campaigns visit battleground states.
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 1:33 PM.
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