CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — September 16, 2026 — President Donald J. Trump spoke with reporters after arriving in North Carolina on Wednesday, addressing the Federal Reserve’s latest interest-rate decision, the 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, Iran, U.S. trade relations with Canada and Europe, and the future of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump was traveling to North Carolina for a campaign event supporting Republican U.S. Senate nominee Michael Whatley, who is running against former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPuJUg6_cUA
Key Facts
- Date: September 16, 2026
- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Speaker: President Donald J. Trump
- Context: Trump was traveling to a campaign event for Republican Senate nominee Michael Whatley.
- Major subjects: Federal Reserve interest rates, Chairman Kevin Warsh, the Butler assassination attempt, Iran, trade with Canada and Europe, Hurricane Helene and the Kennedy Center.
- Important distinction: Several statements during the gaggle were Trump’s political assessments or allegations and are attributed to him rather than presented as independently established facts.
Trump Backs Michael Whatley Before North Carolina Rally
Trump began by saying he was traveling to support Michael Whatley, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in North Carolina.
He praised Whatley’s previous leadership of the Republican Party and criticized former Governor Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee.
Trump also criticized Cooper’s record on crime and his administration’s response to Hurricane Helene.
Those comments represented Trump’s campaign arguments. Official state and federal records show that Cooper declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Helene on September 25, 2024, activated the National Guard and deployed swift-water rescue teams.
Federal records also document a large FEMA response coordinated with North Carolina following the storm.
Official records
North Carolina Governor — State of Emergency Ahead of Hurricane Helene:
https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/09/25/governor-cooper-declares-state-emergency-ahead-hurricane-helene
FEMA — Federal Hurricane Helene Response Update:
https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240928/fema-federal-family-helene-response-update
FEMA — North Carolina Hurricane Helene Disaster Information:
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4827
NOAA / National Hurricane Center — 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season:
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2024
Trump Criticizes Federal Reserve Rate Increase
A major portion of the exchange concerned the Federal Reserve.
Asked whether he continued to have confidence in Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh, Trump said he did.
Trump nevertheless sharply criticized the Federal Reserve Board and argued that U.S. interest rates were too high.
He said Warsh faced what Trump described as a hostile board and argued that the United States should have among the lowest interest rates in the world because of the country’s creditworthiness.
Trump also alleged that the rate increase was politically motivated.
The Federal Reserve’s official statement provides a different explanation for the decision.
On September 16, the Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to raise the target range for the federal funds rate by one-quarter percentage point, to 3.75%–4.00%.
The FOMC said economic activity was expanding at a solid pace but that inflation remained elevated. It said the increase was intended to support a return to the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation objective.
The Federal Reserve operates monetary policy through the Federal Open Market Committee rather than under presidential direction.
Official Federal Reserve documents
Federal Reserve — FOMC Statement, September 16, 2026:
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260916a.htm
Federal Reserve — Implementation Note, September 16, 2026:
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260916a1.htm
Federal Reserve — September 15–16 FOMC Meeting:
https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcpresconf20260916.htm
Federal Reserve — Federal Open Market Committee:
https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomc.htm
Trump Discusses His Conversation With Kevin Warsh
Trump said he had spoken with Warsh before the Federal Reserve decision.
According to Trump’s account, he told the Fed chairman to vote as he wished because one vote would not determine the outcome.
Trump said he did not believe Warsh’s decision resulted from presidential pressure.
The Federal Reserve’s official record shows the September 16 policy decision was approved unanimously by the voting members of the FOMC.
The details of any private conversation between Trump and Warsh are not independently established by the Federal Reserve documents and therefore should be understood as Trump’s account of the exchange.
Butler, Pennsylvania Assassination Attempt
Trump was also questioned about the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt at his campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
He criticized how the investigation had been handled during the Biden administration and criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Trump’s characterization of Wray was his own opinion.
The FBI officially classified the Butler shooting as an assassination attempt and potential domestic terrorism investigation.
The bureau investigated Thomas Matthew Crooks, searched his residence and vehicle, examined his electronic devices and interviewed witnesses and law-enforcement personnel.
The Department of Justice later obtained court authorization to disclose investigative materials to Congress.
Official Butler investigation sources
FBI — Butler Investigation Updates:
https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/butler-investigation-updates
FBI — Update on Investigation of the Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump:
https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/update-on-the-fbi-investigation-of-the-attempted-assassination-of-former-president-donald-trump
Department of Justice — July 13, 2024 Shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/july-13-2024-shooting-butler-pa
Iran and Prospects for an Agreement
Asked about Iran, Trump said he believed the conflict could be approaching an end and said Iran wanted to make a deal.
The comments represented the President’s assessment at the time of the press exchange.
The White House had previously announced a June 2026 Memorandum of Understanding involving Iran and had continued to describe negotiations and military pressure as parallel elements of administration policy.
Trump’s statement in Charlotte did not itself constitute an announcement of a new agreement.
Official White House sources
White House — President Trump’s Iran Agreement:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/06/president-trumps-iran-agreement-is-america-first-in-action/
White House — Maximum Pressure on Iran:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/07/president-trump-on-fox-friends-americas-unrelenting-strength-keeps-maximum-pressure-on-iran/
Trump Threatens Additional Tariffs Over Canada and Europe
Trump also addressed trade with Canada and Europe.
He criticized Canada as a trading partner and said the United States could impose additional tariffs if it concluded that European actions against U.S. trade interests were hostile.
The administration had already taken significant trade action against Canadian products before this press exchange.
On September 8, Trump issued proclamations affecting Canadian motor vehicles, dairy products and alcoholic beverages.
Those actions followed earlier additional duties imposed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
Official trade documents
White House — Canadian Motor Vehicle Trade Proclamation:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/excluding-certain-canadian-products-from-importation-into-the-united-states-in-response-to-continued-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united-states-with-respect-to-motor-vehicles/
White House — Canadian Dairy Trade Proclamation:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/excluding-certain-canadian-products-from-importation-into-the-united-states-in-response-to-continued-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united-states-with-respect-to-dairy/
White House — Canadian Alcoholic Beverages Trade Proclamation:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/excluding-certain-canadian-alcoholic-beverages-from-importation-into-the-united-states-in-response-to-continued-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united-states-with-respect-to-alcoholic-bever/
Kennedy Center
Toward the end of the gaggle, Trump was asked about the Kennedy Center.
He argued that the performing arts complex had suffered from poor maintenance and financial losses and said his administration deserved recognition for efforts to preserve and finance the institution.
Some of Trump’s specific financial descriptions during the exchange require context.
The Kennedy Center’s own financial records show that it receives revenue from programming, education, services and private contributions while also receiving annual federal appropriations for the operation, maintenance, repair and restoration of the federal facility.
For fiscal year 2023, the Kennedy Center reported approximately $45.38 million in federal appropriations for operations, maintenance and capital repair and restoration.
A Government Accountability Office review also documented the federal government’s responsibility for funding Kennedy Center capital repairs, renovations, operations and maintenance.
The Kennedy Center is legally designated as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and serves as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
Official Kennedy Center and government sources
Kennedy Center — Annual Report and Financial Information:
https://www.kennedy-center.org/globalassets/news-room/annualreport/fy23-kcannualreport_web.pdf
U.S. Government Accountability Office — Kennedy Center Facilities and Capital Planning:
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-21-446
Congress.gov — John F. Kennedy Center Act / Related Federal Law:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/1747/text/pl
What Is Confirmed and What Is Attributed
The official Federal Reserve record confirms that the FOMC raised its target interest-rate range to 3.75%–4.00% on September 16.
Federal records confirm the FBI investigation of the Butler assassination attempt.
North Carolina and FEMA records document extensive state and federal Hurricane Helene response activity.
White House proclamations confirm the administration’s recent trade actions involving Canada.
Kennedy Center and GAO documents confirm that the facility receives federal appropriations for operations, maintenance and capital repairs.
Statements by Trump concerning the motives of Federal Reserve officials, Roy Cooper’s performance, Christopher Wray, Iran’s intentions or the motivations of foreign governments are attributed to Trump unless independently established in official records.
Official Sources & Documents
Video — President Trump’s Press Exchange
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPuJUg6_cUA
Federal Reserve — September 16, 2026 FOMC Statement
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20260916a.htm
Federal Reserve — FOMC Meeting Materials
https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcpresconf20260916.htm
FBI — Butler Investigation Updates
https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/butler-investigation-updates
Department of Justice — Butler, Pennsylvania Investigation Materials
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/july-13-2024-shooting-butler-pa
North Carolina Governor — Hurricane Helene State of Emergency
https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2024/09/25/governor-cooper-declares-state-emergency-ahead-hurricane-helene
FEMA — Hurricane Helene Federal Response
https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20240928/fema-federal-family-helene-response-update
National Hurricane Center — Hurricane Helene Official Record
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/index.php?season=2024
White House — Canada Motor Vehicle Trade Action
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/09/excluding-certain-canadian-products-from-importation-into-the-united-states-in-response-to-continued-discrimination-against-the-comm
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