Former US President Donald Trump gave his endorsement to Republican candidate from North Carolina, Congressman Ted Budd, for the US Senate race, while he was speaking at a Republican Party convention in Greenville on Saturday.
"There is somebody in this room that I think is very special; somebody that I've worked with – always been with me. A man that hasn't been pushing me at all," he told the audience, calling the candidate "your next senator."
Trump announced that he is giving the nominee from the state’s 13th Congressional District his “complete and total endorsement,” saying Budd would “fight like hell, like nobody fights.”
"Let’s get back to making America great again," Budd said, thanking the former GOP president for his support.
Trump also urged GOPs to support candidates who are loyal to him, adding, “the survival of America depends on our ability to elect Republicans at every level starting with the midterms next year.”
During the conference, Lara Trump, ex-POTUS’ daughter-in-law, announced that she would not run for a Senate seat, dismissing an earlier rumor. She said that the decision was made because she has two young children, one and three years old.
"But I am saying no for now, not no forever," she said.
Two other GOP candidates are former state governor Pat McCrory and former representative Mark Walker. The current senator form North Carolina, Richard Burr, is expected to retire after his term ends in 2022.
On Friday, Trump responded to a suggestion of him becoming speaker, saying that the idea is “very interesting.” Also commenting on speculation about his intention to run the in the midterm congressional elections, he said that the chances were very low.
Budd showed support for Trump earlier, siding with Republican lawmakers and opposing the Electoral College vote certification, calling for further voter-fraud investigations of the most recent presidential race.