As North Carolina families and businesses grapple with rising fuel costs, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley is standing by President Donald Trump’s war in Iran and his administration’s tariff policies.
At a September 30 campaign event in Raleigh, Whatley doubled down on his support for the war in Iran, even when reporters asked what he would say to North Carolinians facing record-high diesel prices.
“My message is that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons,” Whatley responded.
The war has contributed to rising gasoline and diesel prices, increasing costs for North Carolina families, farmers, truckers, and businesses that rely on fuel to operate. Diesel prices have reached record highs, with higher transportation costs creating additional financial pressure across the economy.
Despite those costs, Whatley has consistently supported the conflict. His position also contrasts with public opinion. An Elon University poll found that 51% of North Carolinians surveyed opposed U.S. military involvement in Iran, while a September Fox News poll found that 60% of respondents believed Trump made the wrong decision to take military action.
Whatley also reiterated his support for Trump’s tariffs, despite concerns about their impact on North Carolina’s economy.
“We need to have trade policies, and obviously tariffs are going to be part of that,” Whatley said. “They are going to help North Carolina companies.”
But North Carolina lost 7,200 manufacturing jobs, with the conservative John Locke Foundation attributing those losses to Trump’s tariffs. Farmers have also faced higher costs for imported equipment, fertilizer, and other supplies.
Whatley’s support for the war has also drawn questions about his personal financial interests. The North Carolina Democratic Party has criticized his investments in oil & gas and defense companies, arguing that those holdings could benefit from the same policies contributing to higher costs for consumers.
“Michael Whatley doesn’t care that North Carolinians are paying record-high prices at the pump because his investments are spiking and he’s getting richer,” said Mallory Payne, senior communications adviser at the North Carolina Democratic Party, in a press release. “Whatley has repeatedly cheered on policies that benefit his stock portfolio while driving up prices for North Carolina families, from Duke Energy bills, to gas, to prescription drugs. Whatley’s priority in the United States Senate would be his bottom line, not North Carolina.”
Whatley maintains that Trump’s military and trade policies will strengthen national security and benefit American businesses, while his Democratic opponent, former Gov. Roy Cooper, has criticized the war and tariffs for contributing to higher costs.
