Trump reveals daughter-in-law as his first choice for open N. Carolina senate seat

After driving one of North Carolina’s senators into retirement, President Donald Trump named his “first choice,” and there remained plenty of time for a relocation since “she doesn’t live there now.”

The commander-in-chief has never been shy about putting his thumb on the scales in support of one candidate or another, and, with speculation running rampant following Sen. Thom Tillis’ (R) announced end to his congressional career, he did so again Tuesday. When asked about the replacement race in the Tar Heel State, the president expressed favor for his own daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

“I didn’t get along with Tillis, and he resigned. That’s good. That’s a good thing. Somebody that would really be great is Lara. She grew up there, but they live in Florida,” reminded Trump of the residency of his son Eric Trump’s family while addressing reporters aboard Air Force One.

President Trump on North Carolina Senate race: “Somebody that would really be great is Lara, she grew up there, but they live in Florida. They have a really good life.” pic.twitter.com/hbP2aE60Fw

— CSPAN (@cspan) July 1, 2025

Previously, Trump supported her appointment as co-chair of the Republican National Committee with fellow North Carolinian Michael Whatley, and he raised her tenure there as he continued, “They have a very good life, and they, you know, they’re great people. She did fantastically running the RNC. She’s even got a show that’s like the number one show, and Mark Levin is likewise. I mean, they have the number one, number two shoe over the weekend. So she’s done well. She’s a great person, Lara Trump. I mean, that would always be my first choice, but she doesn’t live there now.”

Despite having moved away, the President noted of Lara, “But, she’s there all the time — parents — and she really knows North Carolina well. I won it three times. I don’t know who the candidates are going to be. I think you’re going to have one of the congressmen step up, and she’d do very well.”

To that end, WCNC reported that North Carolina state law requires at least 90 days of affiliation with the party before filing a candidacy, “Since voter registration requires state residency, and filing occurs in December, Trump would need to move back to North Carolina by September to meet the 90-day party affiliation requirement.”

Lara Trump stepped down as co-chair of the RNC ahead of her father-in-law’s inauguration and has since begun hosting the Fox News show, “My View with Lara Trump.”

Prior to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) appointing now-former Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) to fill the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R), Lara Trump’s name had been bandied about, but she expressed that she wasn’t pursuing the position.

Meanwhile, prior to Tillis’ retirement announcement, a number of candidates had already entered the race for a primary challenge, including businessman Andy Nilsson and U.S. Navy veteran and attorney Don Brown.

Some speculated that North Carolina Rep. Pat Harrigan (R) would enter the race, and while he didn’t rule it out, he did make clear he would not oppose Trump, “There’s a lot of excitement around the 2026 Senate race, but let me be crystal clear about something: if @LaraLeaTrump enters this race, I’ll be the first to endorse her and the first to fight for her victory.”

There’s lots of excitement around the 2026 Senate race, but let me be crystal clear about something: if @LaraLeaTrump enters this race, I’ll be the first to endorse her and the first to fight for her victory.

— Pat Harrigan (@PatHarriganNC) July 1, 2025