Lara Trump Won't Run For North Carolina Senate Seat Despite President Trump Saying It Would 'Really Be Great'

Lara Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, won't run for North Carolina's U.S. Senate seat in the end, Axios reported on Thursday.

There was wide speculation about the possibility Trump would run given her connection with the president, who said earlier this month that she would "really be great" as a candidate.

Donald Trump, however, had cast doubt on the possibility, saying she and her son Eric "live in Florida and they have a very good life." Lara Trump had previously voiced interest in the seat, even weighing entering the 2020 race but ultimately saying she wasn't ready for public office due to having two young children at the time, then aged 1 and 3.

Running for the Senate would have meant stepping away from her lucrative speaking engagements, podcasting roles, her work within the Trump Organization, and her Fox News show, "My View with Lara Trump," which has significantly raised popularity among conservatives.

"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," Lara Trump said in a post on X.

"While I am not running in this election, my passion for Making America Great Again burns brightly, and I look forward to the future, wherever that leads," she added.

Republican National Committee chair Michael Whatley will run for the seat, Politico reported on Thursday, and will have Donald Trump's blessing. The race is set to be highly competitive as Democrats believe they have good chances of flipping the seat, set to be vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis. Former Gov. Roy Cooper is expected to announce his candidacy as a Democrat soon.