United States President Donald Trump stands next to a map of the United States of reported coronavirus cases as he talks about the administration’s plan to reopen schools during a press conference on coronavirus disease (COVID- 19) at the White House in Washington on July 23, 2020.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
President Donald Trump moved Thursday to cancel the Jacksonville, Florida portions of next month’s Republican National Convention, citing the threat of the coronavirus.
“I told my team that it is time to cancel the Jacksonville, Florida component of the Republican convention,” Trump said in a White House briefing on the coronavirus. The state has become a hot spot for the virus.
“Thousands of people [are] wanting to be there, and I mean in some cases desperately being there, “Trump said.” People who make travel arrangements across the country. “
Trump said he will still deliver a campaign speech, but “in a different way,” without giving additional details. He said he would announce more details about the speech in the coming days.
“We won’t be holding a big crowded convention, per se,” he said, adding that he cares “deeply for the people of Florida.”
The announcement marked an astonishing change for Trump, who lobbied for the convention to relocate from Charlotte, North Carolina, after a fight with the state’s Democratic governor over whether coronavirus precautions would limit the size of crowds.
In recent weeks, the convention has undergone significant changes in logistics and enforcement as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in Florida, forcing the Republican Party to rethink its planning to account for measures to prevent the spread disease to assistants and employees.
Earlier this month, organizers of the Republican National Convention announced a severe limit on the number of people who can attend the event in Jacksonville.
A convention like this generally attracts tens of thousands of people over the course of several days.
A new Quinnipiac University poll found that 62% of voters said they thought it would be unsafe to hold the convention in Florida, scheduled for the week of August 24.
Trump has been eager for the convention to have encouraging crowds as a way to raise his flag campaign. His Democratic rival Joe Biden has opened up a broad lead in the race, according to most national polls, and in changing states like Florida.
But the pandemic appears to have succeeded in destroying Trump’s plans.
The Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 17-20, will be an almost virtual event in Milwaukee. Delegates have been told to stay home due to health problems, and the Democratic National Committee has said it is reevaluating how many people will be allowed on the convention floor.
In a question-and-answer session after his comments, Trump hinted that the convention will take place online, but suggested that the Republican National Committee is in no rush to solidify the details. “We have time,” he said.
The coronavirus outbreak has spread worldwide, with more than 15.3 million confirmed cases and more than 625,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The United States has had more than 3.9 million cases and at least 143,466 deaths, according to the latest counts, more than any other country.
This is breaking news. Please check for updates.
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