President Donald Trump tweeted Monday morning that he would pull the Republican National Convention out of Charlotte, North Carolina if Governor Roy Cooper does not lift social distancing
“I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August,” Trump wrote “Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, [Roy Cooper] is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena.” (RELATED: Trump Shuts Down Entry To United States For The Majority Of Individuals Traveling From Brazil Over Coronavirus Fears)
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 01: U.S. President Donald Trump talks to journalists on the South Lawn (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Trump argued that the Republican National Committee “would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space.”
“The RNC wants to hold a full in-person convention in Charlotte, but we need the governor to provide assurances that it can occur,” a Republican National Committee spokesman told Daily Caller. “We will need some answers sooner rather than later, or we will be forced to consider other options.”
He threatened that if Cooper does not make a decision if the “space will be allowed to be fully occupied,” he and the RNC “will be reluctantly forced to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site.”
I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
…full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space. Plans are being….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
…made by many thousands of enthusiastic Republicans, and others, to head to beautiful North Carolina in August. They must be immediately given an answer by the Governor as to whether or not the space will be allowed to be fully occupied. If not, we will be reluctantly forced…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
…to find, with all of the jobs and economic development it brings, another Republican National Convention site. This is not something I want to do. Thank you, and I LOVE the people of North Carolina!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 25, 2020
The New York Times recently ran a piece claiming Trump has quietly asked aides why the RNC can’t be moved to Florida, given Cooper’s decision to maintain social distancing guidelines over coronavirus fears. The president has publicly praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his decision to begin opening segments of Florida’s economy. He has also touted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s leadership for opening their states, despite the moves receiving criticism earlier in May.
The Democratic Party postponed its convention, originally scheduled to be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in mid July, to mid August.
Representatives for both the Republican National Convention did not respond to Daily Caller’s inquiries about the president’s tweets Monday morning.