The Latest: Pence says Mattis to be with Trump at NC rally

FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 7, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak to a campaign rally in Raleigh, N.C. Trump is slated to hold the second stop of this "thank you" tour Tuesday, Dec. 6, in North Carolina, less than a week after his bombastic return to rallies at an Ohio appearance that felt more like a raucous campaign stop than a traditional speech by a president-to-be. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) FILE - In this Monday, Nov. 7, 2016, file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak to a campaign rally in Raleigh, N.C. Trump is slated to hold the second stop of this "thank you" tour Tuesday, Dec. 6, in North Carolina, less than a week after his bombastic return to rallies at an Ohio appearance that felt more like a raucous campaign stop than a traditional speech by a president-to-be. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

By Associated Press December 6, 2016 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Latest on President-elect Donald Trump (all times EST):

7:44 a.m.

Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary will be with him at a Tuesday night rally in North Carolina.

That’s according to Vice President-elect Mike Pence. The Indiana governor told MSNBC Tuesday that Trump intends to officially announce the nomination of James Mattis to the helm of the Pentagon. The retired general will escort Trump to the rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

The rally is part of Trump’s tour of battleground states where voters helped him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton. He’ll be in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday and Grand Rapids, Michigan on Friday.