CHARLOTTE, N.C. — President Donald Trump arrived in Charlotte Monday and spoke to delegates at the Republican National Convention shortly after he and Vice President Mike Pence were formally nominated for reelection by GOP delegates.
Trump's visit coincided with the first day of the RNC in uptown Charlotte During his speech to delegates, Trump told supporters the 2020 election is critical when it comes to the direction of the country as his administration campaigns for reelection.
"This is the biggest. This is it. Our country can go in a horrible, horrible direction or an even greater direction," Trump said, touting the U.S. economy before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pence landed in Charlotte about an hour before Trump on Monday. Pence also made a short stop at the RNC and gave an impromptu speech to supporters before teasing Trump's arrival a few minutes later.
Delegates met in Charlotte Monday morning to formally renominate Trump and Pence. Pence's speech to delegates came during roll call for each state to pledge their delegates to the Trump-Pence ticket.
Previously reported, according to White House spokesman Peter Hoffman, Trump planned to visit a town near Asheville, North Carolina as well.
Trump traveled to Mills River, North Carolina to visit a Farmers to Families Food Box program site with daughter Ivanka Trump and United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
According to administration officials, the organization, which is supported by the CARES Act and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, helps support America's farmers and connect food-insecure families with nutritious options.
Trump stopped at Flavor First Growers and Packers to speak about the program and get a firsthand look at how it works.
“When the China virus struck our nation many farmers had no place to send their crops or livestock," Trump said. "At the same time, families across the country were in need of groceries. They wanted to eat well.”
Within the Farmers to Families Food Box Program, farmers sell to distributors who package produce, meat and dairy products into family-sized boxes. Families then pick up the boxes from food banks, organizations, and non-profits.
Flavor First Growers and Packers is one of the producers for the program for Baptists on Mission. Baptists on Mission estimates it has given out about 2 million pounds of food during the pandemic to North Carolinians — a need that isn't going away.
President Trump also announced additional money for the program while in North Carolina.
"We will provide an additional $1 billion to fund the Farmers to Families Food Box Program," Trump said. "It’s worked out so well.”
According to the US Department of Agriculture, the program has distributed more than 70 million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president was then scheduled to fly back to Washington.
Delegates arrived for The Republican National Convention Friday. Over 300 people are making their way to the Queen City. Thousands of people were originally expected but the ongoing coronavirus pandemic greatly scaled back the event.
