North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson has decided not to make an appearance or speak at a rally led by former President Donald Trump in Wilmington, North Carolina this Saturday. This decision comes following a report by CNN detailing alleged posts made by Robinson on a pornography website's message board. Despite his absence at the upcoming event, Robinson—referred to by Trump as "Martin Luther King on steroids"—has been a frequent figure at the former president's campaign stops in the state.

Robinson, who is the Republican nominee for governor, faced accusations of making racial and sexual comments in the reported posts. Denying the allegations, Robinson stated firmly that he would not be swayed by what he referred to as "salacious tabloid lies." As the deadline for withdrawal from the gubernatorial race passed, Robinson remained steadfast in his decision to continue campaigning, potentially impacting the GOP's prospects in key races, including Trump's efforts in North Carolina, a battleground state he had previously won twice.

In a video released by his campaign, Robinson assured his supporters that the incendiary remarks attributed to him were not reflective of his character or words. The State Board of Elections confirmed that no withdrawal notice was issued by Robinson, indicating his intent to remain in the race for governor of North Carolina. Despite trailing behind Democratic nominee Josh Stein in recent polls, Robinson affirmed his commitment to the campaign, stating, "We are in it to win it."