Trump's base in North Carolina divided over Robinson controversy

Trump supporters on Saturday gathered at a rally in Wilmington, NC, confident about his chances of winning North Carolina in the upcoming election. The crowd, with their red shirts billowing in the beachside breeze, believed that they could help secure the battleground state for Trump. Yet, when the discussions shifted to Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor, the tone shifted.Robinson’s absence from the rally and Trump’s failure to mention him in front of thousands of supporters hinted at the growing distance between the two Republicans.Robinson has been under fire for his recent scandal, after CNN reported on past comments he allegedly made on a pornography website.But despite the backlash many rally attendees, however, were quick to dismiss these allegations as media-driven attacks.While some in the crowd stood firmly by Robinson, using the same defense he offered—that the media couldn’t be trusted—others took a more forgiving approach.David Huffman, a Wilmington local, acknowledged the damage but remained loyal to Robinson. “He’s toast,” Huffman admitted, adding that he would still vote for him, even if Robinson’s campaign seemed like a long shot at this point. Jason White, from Columbus County, acknowledged the allegations but suggested people could change. “We all got a past,” White remarked. Quintina Debose, another rally attendee, downplayed the accusations as insignificant, saying, “People do stuff all the time. They just don’t get caught.”However, for more cautious conservatives, the allegations raised red flags. While many like Thomas Hart were certain about voting for Trump—particularly after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed him—the same confidence didn’t extend to Robinson. Hart pointed to Robinson’s “pretty wild” remarks as a cause for concern.Despite the controversy, other supporters, like Bryan Faulcon, stood unwavering in their support for Robinson. “They can’t take him down,” Faulcon said, emphasizing that he valued policy over character, even if the allegations were true.Robinson was accused of calling himself a “black NAZI,” admitting to watching transgender pornography and minimizing the severity of slavery. These new allegations followed earlier criticism of Robinson for making racist, antisemitic, and transphobic social media posts.Ultimately, while Robinson’s future remains uncertain, many Trump supporters at the rally remained supportive, willing to overlook past controversies in favour of his political agenda.