Rumors are swirling about a possible run for Congress in North Carolina by President Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, with multiple journalists claiming that they spoke to sources close to the Trump family who said that she was “strongly considering” putting her hat in the ring in the upcoming primary election.
For context, on June 29, 2025, on the same day that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced his retirement, journalists from several outlets wrote that they had heard from a trusted source that Lara Trump was considering a bid for Congress. Lara formerly served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee and hosts the show “My View With Lara Trump” on Fox News.
In a June 29, 2025, X post, Vaughn Hilyard of NBC broke the news about Lara’s possible bid for Congress, saying, “A source close to the Trump family says Lara Trump is ‘strongly considering jumping in the race.'” He added, “Asked about the odds that she runs for #NCSEN to replace Tillis, the source says: ‘I’d put it as high as one could be considering it…The race will be over before it begins.'”
Likewise, Reese Gorman of NOTUS made a similar announcement on X, writing, “Lara Trump is seriously considering a bid for NC Senate, per source.” He added, “The president’s daughter-in-law previously served as RNC co-chair. Commenters on X were divided on the news, with the user Cynthia Scott sounding the alarm, writing, “Dear @DNC BE ON THE LOOKOUT. PREPARE STRATEGY NOW. THIS. IS. NOT. A. DRILL.”
Moreover, writing on Truth Social, President Trump said that “numerous people” had approached him “Wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” adding, “I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America.”
Importantly, President Trump also weighed in on the question of his daughter-in-law’s possible bid for Congress while speaking to reporters on Air Force One, saying, “Somebody that would really be great is Lara.” He added, “She grew up there, but they live in Florida. She’s a great person, Lara Trump. I mean, that would always be my first choice. But she doesn’t live there now, but she’s there all the time.”
The buzz about Lara Trump’s possible run for Congress in 2026 just shortly after North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis — who has often been described as a “RINO” by Trump supporters — announced that he would not be seeking re-election. In his official announcement, the senator said, “In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species.”
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Moreover, Sen. Tillis’s announcement came after he voiced strong opposition to President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill, which he described as betraying “every promise” that the president made on the issue of Medicaid. Speaking in the Senate, Sen. Tillis said, “I think the people in the White House … advising the president are not telling him that the effect of this bill is to break a promise.”
Featured image credit: Lara Trump via X