Lara Trump is no longer her father-in-law’s choice to run for Senate in North Carolina.
The former co-chair of the Republican National Committee dropped the surprise announcement Thursday morning in a statement on X.
“After much consideration and heartfelt discussions with my family, friends, and supporters, I have decided not to pursue the United States Senate seat in North Carolina at this time,” she said. “I look forward to the future, wherever that leads.”
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Politico reports that her announcement came after the president decided to endorse Michael Whatley, the current chair of the Republican National Committee.
Two insiders with knowledge of Trump’s decision told the outlet that Whatley, 57, is expected to formally announce his candidacy in the coming days and will receive endorsements from both Trump and the president’s daughter-in-law.
Until Thursday morning, the president had been expected to endorse Lara Trump, who is married to his son, Eric, and had been courting a potential run since June.
Trump reportedly discussed the opportunity with Lara, a Wilmington native, after the Republican incumbent, Thom Tillis, announced he would not seek reelection.
Tillis, a noted Trump adversary, had been locked into a heated conflict with the president in the days before announcing his retirement.
After the senator voted against, then lambasted Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” the president vowed to endorse any Republican who would challenge Tillis in the upcoming primary.
While Trump won North Carolina in a landslide in 2024, Democrats saw Tillis’ retirement as an opportunity to flip his seat. Former Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is expected to announce his candidacy on Monday.
According to Politico’s report, the president is “optimistic” that Whatley’s connections to major party donors will help him secure the seat for Republicans.
A native of Watuaga County, North Carolina, Whatley previously served as the chair of the state’s Republican Party until assuming his current role in March 2024.
The North Carolina race marks the third time Lara Trump, who previously served as Whatley’s RNC co-chair, has considered a Senate run.
She initially considered entering the Republican primary to replace North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr when he retired in 2022, but ultimately withdrew from contention.
Two years later, the president briefly considered nominating his daughter-in-law to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat, which he vacated to become secretary of state.
She even resigned from her post as Whatley’s RNC co-chair in Dec. 2024, increasing speculation that she planned to take Rubio’s place. However, Trump publicly withdrew her name from consideration just two weeks later.
Since leaving the RNC, Trump, who shares two children with the president’s second son, has been tacitly exploring an entertainment career.
In February, she began hosting the talk show My View with Lara Trump on the Fox News Channel. She has also started releasing original music, dropping her sixth Christian pop single just three days ago.
