Lara Trump responded Wednesday to growing speculation that she may run for U.S. Senate in North Carolina to replace retiring Senator Thom Tillis.
Speaking with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump said the idea was still “very fresh,” but she did not rule it out.
“A lot to process”
NBC News reported earlier this week that an unnamed source close to the Trump family said Lara was “strongly considering” a run and that it was nearly a “done deal.”
“I’d put it as high as one could be considering it … The race will be over before it begins,” the source said.
When asked by Hannity about the speculation, Trump acknowledged the discussions were real.
“Clearly North Carolina needs someone to represent them,” she said. “Tom Tillis has not done a great job.”
History of interest
Trump is a North Carolina native and graduate of the University of North Carolina. She previously considered running for Senate in 2022 and was floated as a possible candidate in Florida to replace Marco Rubio before pulling back.
“Thought about possibly seeking out to fill Marco Rubio’s big shoes down in Florida but the timing wasn’t right for that,” she said.
“And look, this is new, it’s all very fresh. This all happened over the weekend so there’s a lot to process.”
She emphasized that the decision would be a “bigger conversation” for the Trump family.
Leaves door wide open
While not confirming anything, Trump made clear she would welcome the opportunity.
“If I ever have the opportunity to represent the people of my home state in North Carolina, it would be a great honor of mine.”
GOP expected to rally behind her
If she enters the race, Lara Trump is expected to clear the field. Other possible candidates include:
But insiders say the party would quickly unite behind Trump.
A Victory Insights poll from late 2024 showed Lara Trump leading Thom Tillis 65 to 11 percent in a hypothetical matchup.
