Donald Trump returned to North Carolina's voter-rich Piedmont Tuesday, but he's also making a stop where presidential candidates aren't normally seen, in the rural East.

  • Donald Trump made made campaign stops in North Carolina on Tuesday
  • The campaign stops focused on national security, immigration
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The Republican nominee scheduled two rallies in the battleground state Tuesday. It's his seventh visit to this state since winning his party's nomination in July.

Trump kicked off the first of two stops in North Carolina with a mid-day rally at High Point University.

He started his speech by talking about national security, referencing the bombings in New York and New Jersey over the weekend. He says the country must protect itself from and defeat radical Islamic terrorism.

"Immigration security is national security," Trump said. "It's just a plain fact that our current immigration system makes no real attempt to determine the views of the people entering our country. We have no idea who they are (or) what they think."

He also blamed Democrat Hillary Clinton's actions while secretary of state.

"She allowed thousands of criminal aliens to be released into our communities because their home countries would not take them back. They were too bad, they didn't want them, so we took them," Trump said.

Trump promised to cut taxes, renegotiate trade agreements, and create more jobs.

"My economic agenda can be summed up in three beautiful words: jobs, jobs, jobs," Trump said.

He also renewed his appeal for African-American voters' support.

"What do you have to lose? Your education is broken, your communities are unsafe. There are no jobs," Trump said.

While the rally was going on, hundreds of High Point University students, alum and professors held a peaceful protest outside. Protesters said they don't want to see hateful rhetoric or spite in their home.

One protester says she feels the school's decision to host Trump doesn't align with a philosophy of diversity.

"If you go to this school you know that diversity is slipping further and further down on their list of priorities, and it's sad. I want to see a diversity of thought and ideas and races and creeds but that's not the environment we have here," said Liz Reichart, HPU Student Diversity Council.                  

From High Point, Trump headed east and made a stop in Kenansville to speak at the Duplin County Events Center, commonly a locale for agricultural shows and festivals. 

During his rally in Duplin County, he was quick to take jabs at Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, and he discussed his stance on everything from national security to employment.

Trump has been coming to North Carolina nearly every week for public events. North Carolina is considered a must-win for Trump on the path to get enough electoral votes to win Nov. 8. 

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton visited Greensboro last week.

The latest Elon poll shows Donald Trump with a slight lead over Hillary Clinton in North Carolina.