FACT CHECK: Post Claims Trump Gave North Carolina Money Formerly Meant For Illegal Immigrants

A post shared on X claims that President Donald Trump sent money to North Carolina that was formerly meant for illegal immigrants after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said they were out of money. BREAKING: FEMA said they were out of money and couldn’t help North Carolins. Today Trump moved $2 billion from money used […]

Trump prioritizes trip to state 'abandoned by the Democrats': North Carolina



President Donald Trump plans to visit various disaster-struck parts of the nation but will start Friday with North Carolina, as its people suffered for months and have been "treated so badly."

The American government has in recent decades eagerly doled out hundreds of billions of dollars for foreign aid and engaged in fruitless nation-building projects abroad. Former President Joe Biden, for instance, blew $230 million on a useless floating pier off Gaza that was dismantled after 20 days. Recent disasters — in Hawaii, North Carolina, and California, for example — have left some Americans wondering whether their government felt similarly compelled to apply such zeal in domestic relief efforts.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene — which killed over 100 Americans and reportedly damaged at least 6,000 miles of road and over 160 water and sewer systems, over 1,000 bridges and culverts, and at least 73,000 homes — Trump seized upon the perceived difference between the Biden administration's responses to foreign and domestic crises.

'We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders or, more importantly, its own people.'

"They're offering them $750, to people whose homes have been washed away. And yet we send tens of billions of dollars to foreign countries that most people have never heard of," President Donald Trump said at an Oct. 5 rally, referring to the one-time $750-per-household payment to eligible disaster survivors through FEMA's "Serious Needs Assistance." "Think of it: We give foreign countries hundreds of billions of dollars and we're handing North Carolina $750."

Trump hammered this point home in his inaugural address, stating:

We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders or, more importantly, its own people. Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina — who have been treated so badly — and other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago or, more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense.

A Dec. 13 damage and needs assessment in North Carolina estimated that the cost of damages and needs was over $59.6 billion, "including $44.4 billion of direct damage, $9.4 billion of indirect or induced damage, and $5.8 billion of potential investments for strengthening and mitigation."

'We're going to get that thing straightened out.'

While federal funds trickled into the Tar Heel State since the storm along with piecemeal relief efforts — despite the apparent aversion of some within the Federal Emergency Management Agency to render aid to potential Trump supporters — the sense of abandonment remains strong.

Residents of Swannanoa, North Carolina, for instance, told WXII-TV this week that they have received very little help from the federal government and expressed hope that things will change under the new leadership.

Ian Monley, a worker with Valley Strong Disaster Relief, said, "We've seen people living in condemned trailers where they have raw sewage under their trailers. We've seen people living in tents. We've seen people living in cars. Normally, you see FEMA trailers rolling in and things to get people housing. And we haven't seen any of that."

Trump, who suspended all foreign development assistance programs for 90 days on Monday, said in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity Tuesday evening, "On Friday, I'm stopping in North Carolina — first stop because those people were treated very badly by Democrats."

"We're going to get that thing straightened out because they're still suffering from a hurricane months ago," added Trump.

Josh Stein, the state's new Democratic governor, confirmed Trump's visit during a Tuesday briefing, noting, "I think that's very good news for the people of Western North Carolina that this issue is front of mind of the new administration."

While uncertain of his schedule, Stein said he hopes "to be able to see" Trump.

After visiting North Carolina, Trump is headed to Los Angeles then Nevada.

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NC Supreme Court Candidate: More Than 5K Overseas Ballots With No Voter ID Were Counted Illegally

Elections are not over yet in North Carolina, as Republican state Supreme Court candidate Judge Jefferson Griffin filed a brief challenging 5,509 overseas voters who did not provide identification with their ballots in the 2024 election. Griffin’s case is being heard by the very Supreme Court upon which he hopes to serve, as his incumbent […]

The Lumbee are NOT a federally recognized tribe, so why are they receiving so many tax dollars?!



The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina may be recognized by the state, but it has never succeeded in gaining the federal recognition it feels it deserves. While the 1956 Lumbee Act recognized the tribe as Native American, the “people of the dark water” have never received the status, sovereignty, and benefits of a federally recognized tribe.

But that hasn’t stopped the tribe from receiving years of federal support and the ear of certain politicians who purport to take the tribe’s status seriously.

One of those politicians is Rep. Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), who just recently stepped down from his position in Congress. Instead of running for re-election, Bishop competed against Democrat Jeff Jackson in the race for North Carolina attorney general and lost.

In his farewell speech, Bishop chose to highlight the Lumbee Tribe’s ongoing quest for federal recognition (and more tax dollars, of course).

“This is my final week in Congress, and many come to the floor and ruminate over their service. As for me, I can't think of a better way to spend my final words on the floor than in support of recognition for the Lumbee Tribe,” Bishop began.

“The Lumbee have been pursuing justice since the mid-1800s,” he pleaded before highlighting the “their struggle as a people against racial discrimination and their deep and abiding community orientation around the life-changing power of education.”

Pat Gray of “Pat Gray Unleashed” can’t help but laugh at both Bishop and the Lumbee Tribe’s incessant demands for more tax dollars when there are serious debates over the tribe's status.

He is thankful that other politicians, like Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), for example, are calling a spade a spade.

Burchett was pessimistic about the Lumbee Fairness Act that aimed to grant the tribe federal recognition. The bill passed the House but was not considered by the Senate this Congress.

The bill, Burchett said, would “take it to the taxpayers,” as it would cost “close to a billion dollars” and make the Lumbee Tribe the “largest federally recognized tribe in the United States.”

“Terrible idea,” he said bluntly.

“I love Tim Burchett,” laughs Keith Malinak.

To hear the rest of the “Unleashed” team’s commentary, watch the clip above.

Want more from Pat Gray?

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FACT CHECK: Is the New Governor of North Carolina Recovering From A Stroke?

A post on X claims that former Democratic Attorney General and new Governor of North Carolina Josh Stein is recovering from a stroke. North Carolina Attorney General Stein recovering from stroke | AP News Is he fully recovered? Was he vaccine injured? Do we even know? https://t.co/Cit0Cmlm1W — Margo (@MargoinWNC) January 2, 2025 Verdict: False […]

North Carolina Supreme Court Blocks Elections Board From Certifying Democrat As Winner For High Court Seat

Ultimately, Griffin requested the state Supreme Court prohibit the NSCBE from counting the ballots he has challenged as "unlawful."

17-year-old opens fire while attempting carjacking, cops say. But victim also has a gun — and teaches suspect painful lesson.



A 17-year-old opened fire while he attempted a carjacking Sunday night in Raleigh, North Carolina, police told WNCN-TV.

But a few crucial things didn't go the young suspect's way.

'Well, would y'all look at it — a free notice to all wannabe carjackers! ... Don't try carjacking in North Carolina. We are an armed society and will defend ourselves.'

First off, the kid apparently isn't a very good shot; the station said the victim — a man — wasn't hurt.

Second, the victim had a gun of his own. Police told WNCN he fired back at the teen and wounded him.

Police told the station the shooting was reported just after 8:50 p.m. along Arrow Road at the Red Roof Inn.

Police told WNCN the victim's car was in the Red Roof Inn parking lot, and the 17-year-old male tried to carjack the man’s sedan and fired at least one shot during the incident.

But police added to the station that the armed victim fired back, hitting the teen suspect.

Police told WNCN the teen was taken to a hospital for treatment injuries that weren't believed to be life-threatening.

You can view a video report here about the incident, which noted that charges were pending against the teen.

How are people reacting?

Commenters on the station's Facebook post about the botched carjacking seemed squarely behind the actions of the gun-toting victim:

  • "Well, would y'all look at it — a free notice to all wannabe carjackers!" one commenter declared. "Do you wanna be on your way to WakeMed with gunshot wounds, too? Don't try carjacking in North Carolina. We are an armed society and will defend ourselves."
  • "Glad [the] victim was able to defend himself," another user said.
  • "Glad to see someone fighting back with these punk[s]," another commenter wrote.
  • "Liberal-run towns are cesspools for crime," another user stated. "Good job liberals."

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North Carolina Elections Board Allows Potentially Illegal Votes Because They Probably Didn’t Affect Outcomes

Friday’s hearing addressed protests to ballots allegedly cast by felons, ballots cast by early voters who then died before Election Day, and ballots from voters not properly registered.

Republican asks NC Supreme Court to toss 60,000 questionable ballots in judicial race still too close to call



The Republican challenger in a race for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court has asked that same court to toss tens of thousands of ballots he believes should not have counted.

On Wednesday, Judge Jefferson Griffin, who currently sits on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, filed a brief asking the state supreme court to invalidate an astonishing 60,000 votes.

Griffin contends that those ballots were cast by ineligible voters. They include: those who failed to provide a driver's license number or full Social Security number when registering to vote, those reportedly born of American parents but who have never lived in the U.S., and military and other overseas voters who failed to include a copy of their photo ID with their ballot.

Despite recounts, Griffin still trails incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs by fewer than 750 votes. For context, 5.5 million ballots were cast in North Carolina in the November election. Though Riggs has declared victory and called on Griffin to concede, the AP has yet to call the race.

'In the 2024 general election, the Board’s errors changed the outcome of the election for the open seat on this Court.'

The state elections board, made up of three Democrats and two Republicans, voted last week to dismiss Griffin's protest, ruling that no election irregularities appear to have occurred and no laws appear to have been broken. However, the board stopped short of declaring Riggs the winner, the News & Observer reported.

At the protest hearing, board Chair Alan Hirsch claimed that Griffin's request to disqualify ballots cast by registered voters "is anathema to the democratic system and simply cannot be tolerated."

Now, Griffin is pleading his case with the court he hopes to join.

"The state [elections] board is an administrative agency that has knowingly broken the law and refused to do anything about it," Griffin wrote in the supreme court filing. "Indeed, the Board has been breaking our election law for decades. This lawlessness was brought to the Board’s attention back in 2023, before the 2024 general election, but the Board refused to correct its errors. Now those chickens have come home to roost."

"In the 2024 general election, the Board’s errors changed the outcome of the election for the open seat on this Court."

Griffin is asking the court to refuse to allow Riggs to be certified as the winner and to suspend the 10-day deadline for him to file an appeal in Wake County. He has asked the court to rule on his case by Monday.

"The State Board of Elections has not been fair or transparent, and it is by their actions alone we have no other choice than to take this step," said a statement from North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons, according to WRAL. "Judge Griffin has led efforts to seek accountability and restore integrity while the state board has been dragging its feet and ignoring the law."

Though Riggs is a current member, the North Carolina Supreme Court may be more amenable to Griffin's arguments than the elections board. For one thing, Republican justices enjoy a strong 5-2 majority on the supreme court. Moreover, the state Democratic Party already sued in federal court last month to prevent the state's highest court from intervening in this election, fearing that it would side with Griffin and perhaps overturn Riggs' apparent victory.

"Griffin has refused to face reality and admit that he lost the Supreme Court race to Justice Allison Riggs," said a statement from Anderson Clayton, the chairwoman of the North Carolina Democratic Party. "Instead, he has wasted taxpayer dollars, tried to toss out the ballots of over 60,000 North Carolinians, and attempted to find any way to overturn the will of the people."

A spokesperson for Riggs did not respond to WRAL's request for comment.

According to the outlet, the appeals process could draw this election out for weeks or even months. It is unclear whether Riggs will remain on the court should the process continue beyond the end of her term, which is set to expire in January.

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